1967

The Weyburn Quota Club retired from many years of their very successful ‘performing’ series known as “Overture”.

 

1967 – 1974

A group of concerned citizens, with Jack Porter as president, assumed the continuance of “Overture”, retiring from their volunteer positions in 1974.

 

* June 1968 the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils was formed.

* February 1974 Marguerite Galloway, volunteer extraordinaire of Estevan was hired as the first executive director of OSAC. The mandate was to coordinate & give cohesiveness to the arts programs being presented in Saskatchewan.

 

1974 – 2014 

The Exemplar Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi, took over the local ‘performing’ helm.  “Overture” was a season ticket only series. No advance or at the door tickets.  That was problematic for the growth & continuance of the ‘series’…a new approach was needed!

 

* 1975…Through OSAC, the “Stars for Saskatchewan” was established.  This program was to attract world famous artists to small Saskatchewan communities & give extensive performance opportunities to developing artists.

 

In 1976 Weyburn Concert Series was born, & this same Beta chapter offered Weyburn & area a continual series of performing arts.  Over 40 years they worked closely with OSAC, to bring in the best performances available—educating and entertaining audiences.  More than 240 concerts were offered during that time frame.

1990…proved to be a year of financial struggle!  The Rotary Club help financially with the Frank Mills concert.  Since then, Weyburn Concert Series has never looked back.

 

2013

A new performance venue is finally completed in our community.  The “Cugnet Centre” is located in the Weyburn Comprehensive School.  Its primary purpose is to serve as a school gym; however, after school hours, the Cugnet Centre is a multi purpose facility for use in our city.  For Weyburn Concert Series, it is a 1000 plus seating performance venue, with state of the art lighting & sound.

 

2014 – Present

The Beta Chapter retired in May 2014.  Weyburn Concert Series continues to thrive, initially under the skillful leadership of Lynn Kot, & now led by president Linda Aitken.  WCS has a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers who, teamed together, are responsible for the continuation of our professional live performances in Weyburn. 

 

Linda Aitken     cell:   306-861-0146

 

To quote former OSAC executive director, Nancy Martin:

 “Connecting art through the heart to the people makes Saskatchewan communities better places to live, and the arts become an integral part of our everyday lives.”