IT'S a case of new year, fresh start at Evesham Arts Centre.

The town's community arts venue will be bursting into 2005 with a new look and new events.

As well as its usual programme there will be poetry, storytelling, more local arts involvement and there will also be cinema screenings, which will be popular with film buffs missing the town's Regal cinema, whose future is still in doubt.

For the first time, the centre is producing a brochure for its spring season to showcase the new line-up of events and an open day is being staged on Saturday, January 8, to launch the new plans and give people the chance to get involved in some new exciting projects.

Centre spokesman Lynn Davies said: "This is the biggest, broadest programme the arts centre has ever seen. Finally, Evesham has a cinema again."

He added: "Many parts of the arts centre have been substantially refurbished and a great series of events and performances lies ahead - everything from Poetry in the Bar to a Big Band Forties Night to mark the 60th anniversary of VE Day."

On Saturday, the Carpe Diem Theatre company is performing The Elves and the Shoemaker and it will be looking to recruit talented local youngsters to join its youth theatre based at the arts centre.

There will also be three new companies setting up home at the centre, which will appeal to anyone interested in all aspects of theatre.

The Red Light Company is an acting group which will focus on new work in The Studio. The Green Light Writers will meet regularly to work towards new productions and publication and the Blue Light Crew will be trained in all the backstage arts.

Lynn said: "The open day will give everyone the chance to see the changes that have already taken place and to find out more about these new initiatives as well as shows, holiday workshops and movies coming to the arts centre over the next few months.

"It's an exciting time for the arts centre and we'd like as many people as possible to come along and take part."

The open day runs from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, January 8.