The third wish Mayor Peter Milobar was bestowed with during the Mayor's Gala for the Arts on Saturday night didn't come with the announcement for a new performing arts centre.

But the city did move one step closer to the often discussed centre, with Milobar revealing the members of a committee tasked with exploring what the facility would look like.

He also provided a date for a public input session, with people invited to the Tournament Capital Centre on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to share their thoughts about the kind of arts centre they want.

"You're all encourage to come and give us your thoughts about what you'd like to see," Milobar told the festive crowd at the Kamloops Convention Centre.

"It gives us a good sense about what the majority of the people are looking for."

He said the Tournament Capital Centre is a fitting venue, given that at the time it was built no one thought the facility would see any use. Now more than million people visit it annually.

As for that committee, the members are Norm Daley, Sandy Watt, Michael Fane, Fiona Chan and Thompson Rivers University president Alan Shaver.

Milobar's revelation came toward the end of what has become the event of the year for the local arts scene. A collaborative effort between the Kamloops Arts Gallery, Western Canada Theatre and the Kamloops Symphony, the fundraiser was once again a sellout, with guests paying $100 each for a sumptuous three-course meal.

Each year presents a theme, and this year's was Arabian Nights. Holding true to the idea, the crowd was treated to belly dancing by the Black Moon Dance Company along with a variety of Middle Eastern music provided by the Cantabile Singers and the VICO Persian Trio.

Several of the guests got into the act, dressing in their finest Arabian costumes.

Milobar's announcement was presented in stages throughout the night in an amusing skit involving a genie in a lamp played by Teresa Parisone and three wishes. One segment had the audience laughing out loud as Milobar's 14-year-old son, Ethan, played the mayor at age 19, when he met the genie and was granted his first wish.

Two awards were handed out this year, one for emerging artist and the other, a new award, for business for the arts. Vocalist Tomas Bijok won emerging artist while New Gold took the business honour.

Bijork hopes he can inspire other artists to pursue their dreams.

"I am inspired, as an artist, to continue to serve my community at home and abroad. To continue doing my part in keeping the arts alive," he said.

B.C. Lieut-Gov Judith Guichon attended the event, with CBC Daybreak Kamloops host Shelley Joyce acting as master of ceremonies.