The Buy Into the Arts Campaign -— which asks Kimberley residents and businesses to purchase a square foot or more of the lot next door to Centre 64 — has been quite successful, and all involved are delighted at the amount raised so far — $33,000.

However, that's not enough to swing the purchase of the lot. The Expansion Committee had been working towards a sales deadline for the end of December, 2009. That has now been extended.

"The vendors have graciously extended the purchase date," said Carol Fergus of the Expansion Committee. "So we are still looking for donations, it's not too late."

The committee had $31,000 to begin with and they have a little more than matched that again through the Buy Into the Arts campaign.

"We've met what we had initially so to add to that over the next month or so would be wonderful."

Fergus said the committee has also applied for grants, but have not heard back on any of those applications yet.

Buy one or more square foot for $50 each, which is designated a bronze donation. A silver donations is 120 square feet, $500. $2500 buys 50 feet by 1 foot, a gold donation. The platinum donation is $10,000 worth of real estate, four 50 foot rows. All money will be held in trust and returned in the land purchase does not proceed.

Make a cheque payable to Kimberley Arts Council - Centre 64 Property Trust Fund. Donations may be dropped off Tuesday to Saturday 1 to 5 p.m at Cent4re 64 or Edward Jones Investments weekdays, or mailed to 64 Deer Park Avenue, Kimberley BC V1A 2J2.