The centre will provide more than 100 jobs for Caernarfon

The Creative Enterprise Centre is seen by its chief executive as a "'mini version" of the �104m Wales Millennium Centre, now rising up in Cardiff Bay.

"It's like a millennium centre in microcosm," said Gwyn Roberts, chief executive of Cwmni Tref Caernarfon, the company behind the north Wales project.

"In fact, the concept predates the Wales Millennium Centre.

The similarities between the two projects do not end there.

Gwynedd-born opera star Bryn Terfel is due to open the Caernarfon centre in February 2005, almost a year after he is scheduled to sing at the gala ceremony to launch the Wales Millennium Centre.

"Bryn Terfel is involved in our opening weekend," said Mr Roberts.

Bryn Terfel is a supporter of both arts centres

"As a local boy, he has been a big supporter of the project."

Part of the reason the Caernarfon project has taken so long to reach the construction stage is that it is multi-funded, said Mr Roberts.

Edinburgh architects

Support is coming from a range of sources including the Welsh Development Agency, the Wales Tourist Board, European Objective One funds and Gwynedd Council, which is donating the land.

The Arts Council of Wales Lottery Fund has provided �2.85m towards the centre, while a further �2.15m is coming from the Welsh assembly Local Regeneration Fund.

Designed by Edinburgh-based architects Richard Murphy, it is hoped the Creative Enterprise Centre will be notable for its design.

It is also designed to fill a gap in the lack of theatre and cinema venues in that part of north Wales.

Costs were first put at �6m, but have risen to �7.5m.

The building will include a 400-seat auditorium, two large rehearsal studios, a visual arts exhibition area, workshop space for rent, and rooms to hire.

"The idea is that this is a building which doesn't just come to life two or three nights a week," explained Mr Roberts.

"This building lives through the day and through the week with people making use of it all the time."

When it is up and running the centre will also be a large employer in Caernarfon, providing 104 full-time equivalent jobs.