ART lovers are being urged to come up with ideas that will safeguard the long-term future of Darlington Arts Centre.

The centre was threatened with closure in the summer after Darlington Borough Council announced it was planning to withdraw its subsidy because of Government cuts.

However, last week, proposals for the centre to be run on a reduced subsidy were announced, giving other organisations more time to come up with ideas of their own.

Darlington for Culture was set up after the initial announcement in a bid to save arts in the town.

Hundreds of people have since attended a series of meetings and signed petitions against the closure of the centre.

Paul Harman, chairman of the Darlington for Culture steering group, urged those people to now come up with proposals to keep the centre open.

He said: "The council now propose that our arts centre will stay open for a few more months - but on a much reduced budget.

"This is to give time to plan a sustainable future for the arts and cultural life in Darlington.

"We congratulate the council on the bold decision to open up discussion on the future needs of artists, clubs, associations, regular users and the wider public.

"Between now and July we will create the vision. With that agreed, we will find ways to make the vision a reality - the buildings, people and organisations we will need to deliver an exciting and rich cultural scene.

"Darlington for Culture will work with local professional and amateur artists and organisations, planners working on the cultural quarter and town centre Fringe proposals, representatives of schools and colleges, council staffad elected members and all other stakeholders, to find the right, long-term solution."

Darlington for Culture's meeting takes place at Darlington Arts Centre on Thursday at 7pm.