Galeri opened after 10 years of planning

The centre was set up with more than �7.2m public funding as part of a plan to regenerate the town's Victoria Dock.

But the owner, Cwmni Tref Caernarfon, said it should be treated the same as other arts centres in Gwynedd and receive money towards events.

The request for between �50,000 and �100,000 a year is being considered.

After 10 years planning, the centre opened in March 2005. It has a 400-seat theatre which doubles as a cinema, an art space and cafe bar, as well as performance and rehearsal studios and conference rooms.

It received public funding to help it set up from a variety of sources including more than �1.3m from the European Objective One fund - which helps deprived areas - and almost �3m from the Arts Lottery Fund.

PUBLIC FUNDING FOR GALERI Arts Lottery Fund �2,976,811 Local regeneration fund �2,153,615 Objective One �1,304,266 Welsh Development Agency �455,245 Wales Tourist Board �337,500

Cwmni Tref Caernarfon chief executive Gwyn Roberts denied the company was now in financial difficulties, but said it wanted to continue offering the same level of community events.

"Since opening we have run a very comprehensive and varied programme of entertainment in the theatre and community events of public interest," said Mr Roberts.

"We want to keep that level of programme and build on it because the potential of this area is magnificent."

"We haven't had any revenue help (day-to-day funding) at all from the council although the council gave us the land to build the centre."

But the council said the scheme had received �2.1m from its local regeneration fund and the company's business plan had shown the project was sustainable without revenue funding.

"Gwynedd Council is keen to collaborate with Galeri in order to identify other possible financial sources," a council statement said.

The council added it was talking to the company and was also drawing up its new arts strategy. It would be looking at establishments which received money from the council's arts fund.