FIRSTSITE will become an art gallery with very little art for two months.

The venue, in Lewis Gardens, Colchester, will host Christmas-themed events instead of an exhibition in December.

The £28million building will shut for refurbishment and maintenance in January – just over three years after it opened.

Matthew Rowe, director, admitted Firstsite, which receives public funding of about £1million a year, is operating in a challenging economic environment.

He said the closure is necessary to finance a business plan to make the gallery a success in the long term.

Critics have suggested letting local artists display their work while there are no exhibitions.

For a special report, see Friday's Gazette