The plans to dramatically improve and extend mac and sampad's 45-year-old building in Cannon Hill Park will be considered on the 21st January.

If given the go-ahead, work will begin this spring and will be due for completion in August 2009, with reopening scheduled for October.

Birmingham City Council has committed £6.215m funding for the project, with Arts Council England providing £5.475m.

Mac will contribute £1.91m through fundraising and have already secured £800,000 from the Charles Henry Foyle Trust to enable a new performing arts studio to be built as part of the building project.

After partial demolition, the redevelopment plans include a brand new double-height gallery, better-disabled access, a new ticket office, a new pedestrian bridge and entrance and two major new studios for media and schoolwork.

Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, Cllr Ray Hassall said: "This multi-million pound project will provide a new, modern centre fit for the 21st Century - helping us to forge ahead with our vision of providing accessible arts for all."