THE claim that Teesside is a cultural desert is an out-of-date generalisation which insults the many artistic endeavours, amateur and professional, to be found in the area.

However, those who believe that a vibrant cultural life is fundamental to the health of a region would freely admit that the Tees Valley is still desperately short of cultural facilities. Which is why Stockton's Arc arts complex is so important.

The news that the futuristic building in the town centre is to re-open in the spring is welcome indeed, although we have yet to hear exactly how the centre's future is to be funded. Vague references to residents' groups attracting funding for certain projects seems to be at the heart of a new business plan, which doesn't sound very substantive. However, most accept that a key problem with the early management of the Arc was a programme which manifestly failed to excite local people. Ways have to be found to drawn them in and perhaps these residents' groups may do that. More will be revealed next week.

The establishment of a non-profit making company to run the Arc is overdue acknowledgement that such a facility is never likely to balance the books in terms of bums-on-seats revenue covering the costs of running the centre. It has to be subsidised; the only argument is how the cost of that subsidy is shared among the supporting bodies and how big that subsidy should be.

The Arts Council pulled the plug last year because the balance between subsidy and revenue was awry. The centre's future still depends on a programme of activity which pulls in the punters whilst retaining what the critics might claim to be intellectual credibility. These balances, and getting them right, are the key to a sustainable Arc.