Darlington artists are to get better opportunities to display their work under plans from an organisation established to help save arts in the borough.

Darlington for Culture (DfC), which was set up late last year to protect Darlington Arts Centre, has started work with visual artists across the town.

Darlington Borough Council, which owns the centre, has agreed that DfC, whose supporters come from community and arts groups across the borough, can stage a number of events at the Vane Terrace complex.

One of the main events being planned is an art fair to be held at the centre between Tuesday, August 30, and Saturday, September 3.

Yvonne Preston, who is coordinating the visual arts programme for DfC, said: "We are already talking to a number of artists to discover their ideas and wish to talk to many more.

"The art fair will be a superb event and give artists a chance to raise their profile.

"We know that people want the arts centre to have a future and now really is the time for artists to step forward to play their part."

The art fair will kick off DfC's autumn programme, which will see a number of events staged at the centre.

For more information, contact yvonneangelapreston@hotmail.com The next arranged meeting of DfC's Visual Arts Group is to be held at Darlington Arts Centre, tonight, at 7pm.

All interested artists are invited to attend.