A FAMOUS face linked to Bromsgrove is being lined up to open the new £2.6 million town art centre when it is unveiled this autumn, writes Emily Bridgewater.

But Robbie Hazlehurst, Bromsgrove District Council's leisure chief, won't be drawn on exactly which celebrities were being considered to get the show on the road. "We have a number of people we are considering to open the centre. I could not possibly give any names away though at this stage because we do not want to jeopardise anything," he said coyly.

The Advertiser/Messenger enjoyed a behind the scenes preview of the Artrix - Bromsgrove's new art centre - last Tuesday afternoon.

The ambitious project is a joint venture between the district council and NEW College and will delight arts enthusiasts who have twice had their hopes for such a centre dashed.

Plans to convert the Bromsgrove Drill Hall into an arts centre evaporated, along with controversial proposals to develop the Recreation Ground, near ASDA.

Work finally started on the arts centre last month and site manager Andy Kenyan, of JS Seddon, says the project is two weeks ahead of schedule and will be finished by August.

Entrance to the Artrix will be via School Drive. There will be a large, open plan foyer where arts fans can buy tickets and find out about forthcoming events.

Above the lobby there will be a room, which can hold about 60 people, to be used for exhibitions and small performances.

"This is a really exciting space and very flexible," said Mr Hazlehurst.

Further rooms on the two upper levels will be used for rehearsals, workshops and study groups. There will also be toilets, showers and dressing rooms.

The foyer will lead to the grand auditorium, which at best will seat 320 people in tiered seating and in galleries around the sides. However, if an orchestra pit is required the capacity will be reduced to 240.

"It will be excellent for school concerts, amplified music and professional productions," said Mr Hazlehurst.

He explained how planners had requested the height of the ceiling be increased from 12-metres to 16m to improve the acoustic sound.

The extra height will also allow for performers to be suspended and seemingly fly across the stage.

"Once complete it will offer some of the best acoustics and performance space in the West Midlands," he said.

Provision has also been made to show feature films in the auditorium, although Mr Hazlehurst said the Artrix would not be in direct competition with the multi-screen cinemas.

"We will be able to show films three to six months after their general release, or films specifically for small auditoriums," he said.

Grand opening for the centre is scheduled for the end of October with the first shows booked for the beginning of November. A centre manager is in the process of being appointed.

Sue Nixon, the council's new chief executive, said: "The arts centre is a tremendous credit to all concerned."