DURHAM Sixth Form College has unveiled plans for the second phase of the upgrading of its city centre campus.

The centre, in Providence Row, has already opened a resource centre packed with the latest computer equipment as part of a £2.4m modernisation programme.

Now it plans to build a £1m fine arts facility in which temporary art classrooms that have been used for at least 20 years will be replaced with a purpose-built centre.

The college has submitted a planning application and if approval is granted, it hopes to start work in September, completing the project next year. Funding is being met by the college and Durham County Council.

Headteacher Mike Brett said: "We are building a state-of-the-art arts building with community and multi-cultural uses.

"We will have specialist facilities for fine arts, ceramics and glass, and there will be space for community use during the day and the evenings.

"We hope to provide workshop space for an artist in residence."

He said students in other schools wll be able to see the artist at work through the use of video.

He said: "What is really exciting is that it will be a very modern building, a curved building with two storeys.

"The architecture is innovative. It is the same architects who designed the resource centre.''

Space will be devoted to multi-cultural arts and will be home to artists from the city's Chinese community, who are involved with the city's annual Chinese New Year celebrations.

Mr Brett said: "They approached me about it. They want to keep their culture alive and share it with the local community.''

A Chinese artist in resident will work in the facility and will be visited by pupils from other schools.

The new facility will also have space for computer equipment and have a permanent gallery for displays and exhibitions.

The centre is part of Durham Gilesgate Sports College, whose Bradford Crescent campus has been given a new entrance, reception area and conference suite.