ASPIRING artists will get fresh inspiration when they move into a £1.25m centre in Durham City next week.

As well as studying for A- level visual art subjects, students from Durham Gilesgate Sports College and Sixth Form Centre will be able to exhibit their work in the permanent gallery space at the new building, in Providence Row.

The centre, which has four large, fully-equipped classrooms, will also be used by younger students on vocational arts courses, as well as the community, adult education and primary schools.

The keys to the centre were handed over by architect Ian Scott, of Niven Architects, in Darlington, who designed the building.

Head of art Ellen Beveridge said: "The centre is at the heart of arts provision at the college and provides the opportunity for people to express themselves in a variety of media in an exciting, stimulating and well-equipped, purpose-built environment."

The modern design of the centre, with its nine-metre tinted glass frontage, was designed to contrast with the Victorian architecture of the Sixth Form Centre buildings next door. The ground floor of the central foyer will be used as exhibition space for two-dimensional artwork, glass, ceramics and textiles.

Above is a design and enterprise suite that will provide a link between arts education and the business world. A graphic designer will run the suite as a business, providing marketing and design services and vocational work experience for arts and business students.

As part of the development, the former school caretaker's house has been turned into a studio and flat to be used by artists in residence, the first being Chinese artist Chun-Chao Chiu who starts next month, while a landscaped sculpture garden is planned to link the house with the visual arts centre.

Niven Architects is working on designs for the college hall and dining area.