THE Baltic arts centre celebrates its first birthday tomorrow with music and free birthday cake for visitors.

The centre, on Gateshead Quays, is about to welcome its millionth visitor. It has established itself as a viewing space and art factory, with works created on-site including the Domain Field by Angel of the North artist Antony Gormley.

Sune Nordgren, who announced recently that he is stepping down as Baltic director, said: "We are pleased to be celebrating Baltic's first birthday and delighted that the people of the region have taken Baltic to their hearts.

"We are building a new audience for the arts here in the region, and of course the arts programme has also brought in lots of national and international visitors.

"We are overwhelmed by the success that Baltic has achieved in its first year. We've had more than four times the estimated number of visitors so far - this is a fantastic foundation to build on for the future."

It has been a busy year for staff in the former flour mill. Other key exhibitions to arrive on Tyneside included Cobra, heralded by art critic Brian Sewell as too good for the North.

And the centre has hosted high-profile events including a BBC Newsnight special in February, when Prime Minister Tony Blair answered questions from a North-East audience over plans to invade Iraq.

It also hosted the prestigious Stirling Prize, and Audi Young Designer Award, and BBC Question Time.

Andrew Dixon, executive director of the Arts Council England North East, said: "Baltic has captured the public's imagination and is a huge success story for the Arts Council Lottery.

"It was the decision to back Gateshead's vision for Baltic which started the cultural regeneration of the Quays but its popularity has surpassed everyone's wildest dreams."