FIRSTSITE, Colchester's £26million art gallery, is open to the public from today, Sunday. It is expected to attract 500,000 visitors a year.

Eight hundred people attended a reception to launch Firstsite last night, Saturday.

Leading lights at the Arts Council, Essex County Council, Colchester Council, Essex University and Firstsite describe the building as a regional base for the visual arts and the cornerstone of the Cultural Quarter – a project to regenerate the St Botolph’s area of Colchester.

Peter Martin, leader of Essex County Council, admitted there had been some tricky periods for the building, finished four years late and at least £10million over budget.

He said: “It’s a very emotional moment for the people who have been involved. We have ended up with a stunning building, but we have had our moments on the road through.

“It may not convince the sceptics, but the supporters of Firstsite have funded the project because we were investing in success and a vision, and in our excellent director Kath Wood, who has been an inspiration for this project over the past few years.”

Mr Martin claimed the Cultural Quarter, which will feature three hotels, a new business centre for creative firms and the Vineyard Gate shopping centre would help attract 500,000 more visitors to Colchester.

Paul Smith, the Colchester councillor responsible for the building, said Firstsite was crucial in ensuring Colchester does not become an identikit, commuter town.

He pointed to the town’s growing population, the 6,000 people already employed in creative businesses and the popularity of Slackspace, which has turned empty buildings into arts spaces and attracted 40,000 visitors in two years, as indicators Firstsite will be a success.

He said: “Ten years ago Colchester was the fourth largest district in Essex. Today, as a result of the growth, we’re the largest.

“In those ten years we have had 35,000 extra Colcestrians turn up. We already have over twice the national average of our businesses in the creative sector.

“We wouldn’t get national clients wanting to move into such an area without the powerful boost a building like Firstsite produces.”

Director Kath Wood said Colchester was ripe for an arts centre, like Firstsite, claiming the town had one of the highest proportion of artists anywhere outside London.

She said: “We believe this building shouldn’t be anywhere else but here.”