Bradford's eyesore Eastbrook Hall has been dubbed a piece of "urban art" and it is being floodlit for the public to enjoy.

The board of the beleaguered Priestley Centre has done a U-turn about the derelict building, which it had blamed for falling audiences.

Now one side of the building is being floodlit from the top floor of a building opposite, which the Priestley Centre for the Arts Ltd owns.

Chairman of the board Glen Boldy said: "We now see the building as an urban art installation. We are also giving consideration to commissioning an artist to design a scheme to light up the facade on Chapel Street.

"It looks a bit like the ruins which are spotlighted at Fountains Abbey. We have turned the negative into the positive and it makes the area better for everyone."

The theatre, which now expects to stave off the threat of liquidation, is putting the former centre of Methodism in the spotlight as a team headed by architects Priest Woodward draws up a study of how it can be developed. Mr Boldy said: "We look forward to it being redeveloped and hope we can be involved. But while it is in its present state we will continue to floodlight it."

The Priestley board recommended that members agreed a voluntary liquidation of the theatre last month and it ceased trading.

But the decision was deferred and in the meantime the board has enlisted support from large numbers of organisations - some offering finance.

Mr Boldy said the aim was now to become Bradford's first inter-cultural urban arts space which could be used by many different groups. The board has also drawn up a year-long short-term survival package while it prepares it development plan.

Mr Boldy said income could be obtained by renting out space and caterers were expected to take out a franchise for the bar.

The theatre has submitted its plans to Bradford Council and asked for its support.

Theatre members were being asked by the board at a meeting tonight to approve the action which would lead to the re-opening of the theatre.