Members of the Weyburn Performing Arts Centre Society are settling in for the long haul of lobbying a senior level of government to get behind their project, which would in turn encourage local supporters and corporations to get on board.

The society held their annual meeting on Wednesday evening, and all members agreed to continue with their position, including president Dave Craigen.

A vacancy left last year by media chair Isabelle Butters was left unfilled, and will remain open to be filled if and when the need arises before the next annual meeting.

A good part of the evening's discussion centred on how the society should proceed in getting more outside support for their project, which would see a performing arts centre built at the Weyburn Comprehensive School.

"My vision for getting the fund-raising started was to get a senior level of government on board and from there go to the community, corporations and foundations. I asked the committee to question me on that; should we go to the community and corporations first so maybe it might shake something out from a senior level of government? The committee was fully behind me, saying this is the way to go," said Craigen.

He noted Prince Albert has been going through the same struggle as Weyburn, only their efforts have lasted nine years now in trying to get a similar kind of centre located there. The best contact the Weyburn group has had so far, though, is at Yorkton, which has encouraged Weyburn to continue the path they are taking in garnering support.

"If you don't get a senior level of government first, you really have to work hard to get the confidence of the local community," said Craigen.

The president also chronicled the past year of activities for the society, noting the first annual White Night celebrations on New Year's Eve went off very well, and plans have begun already for another one this year, with more volunteers to help out.

The society raffled off a painting by Eltje Degenhart, drawn at the Weyburn Wheat Festival in August, and raised about $1,400.

Attendance at the Wheat Festival concert, featuring nationally-known folk singer Connie Kaldor, showed Weyburn can support more well-known acts, said Craigen, which further shored up support for the centre.

After setting a Guinness World Record last year, for the largest sit-down fowl supper, the society laid low this year and watched to see if anyone else would knock off the record. Not content to wait for that to happen, Craigen said he's urging the society to plan another fund-raiser next year, and planning will begin soon.

With approval for the second phase of renovations to go at the Weyburn Comprehensive, in order to accommodate the integration of the Southeast Regional College by next June, the time is approaching when the Comp board may have to use the $200,000 in funding which was set aside for use either in the performing arts centre or a new band and choral room.

The performing arts centre society have always known this time was coming, said Craigen, and said the proposed location of the new band room ­ in the Comp's courtyard area ­ won't jeopardize the proposed location for the centre.

"If they have to move on that money, then they have to go. We've always known that," he said.