LONDON.-2008 and 2009 are momentous years for the arts in the East Midlands. During that period five new arts centres - costing over £92 million - open their doors to the public.

This is one of the biggest investments in arts buildings in any English region, and will change the face of the arts in the East Midlands. These projects will bring outstanding architecture and a range of facilities at the forefront of technology that will attract internationally renowned artists.

Two of the arts centres in Derby (QUAD) and Nottingham (CCAN) will be significant cultural landmarks, locally, nationally and internationally attracting cultural tourists to the region.

And Leicester Performing Arts Centre is being billed as the most exciting new cultural development in Europe. It will create one of the most innovative venues in the UK for theatre and the performing arts.

Arts Council England is proud that the investment will help celebrate diversity in the region. The New Art Exchange in Nottingham will be the largest Black-led visual arts centre in the UK outside London. First Movement’s project in Derbyshire will be a national model for developing the arts to work with learning disabled people.

By attracting new and bigger audiences the creation of the new centres will provide a big boost to the region’s cultural economy.