The Priestley Centre for the Arts is urging the people of Bradford to help shape its future, as a major part of the district's Capital of Culture bid.

The Little Germany theatre is planning a series of arts events involving music and dance, and to resurrect its film screenings, as part of the bid.

And it plans to produce a photographic record for the culture team's "snapshots of culture" campaign, which is seeking photographs from the public of what culture means to them.

The Priestley is throwing itself behind the bid, despite still recovering from a troubled year, and is working with Bradford's Capital of Culture team to secure its long-term future.

Last autumn the Priestley's future looked bleak, when it needed to raise £10,000 in just a few weeks to pay its creditors.

In November, following a Telegraph & Argus Save the Priestley campaign, the theatre raised £11,225 - enough to secure a three-month "breathing space" and give it a strong footing on which to build. Now that period is coming to a close, and the theatre wants ideas from the public on how it can survive.

"We have been working on a long-term business plan to secure our future," said director Glenn Boldy. "We appealed to the local business community for help and the response was very positive. The Capital of Culture team is helping us find out which grants we are eligible for, and we've had help in areas like legal and business expertise.

"But the funding situation isn't good. At the end of the day we need to make more use of the theatre as a community facility. Whether it's popping into our bar on the way home from work or using the auditorium as a conference facility, we want people to make as much use as possible of the place.

"We don't want to be seen as just an amateur theatre. We have been a major part of the city's cultural life for the best part of a century."

Ring (01274) 820666 if you have ideas to offer.