A £4 MILLION centre for dance, circus arts, trapeze and disabled artists is to be built at a former fish market in Glasgow.

Wasps, the artist studio company, has appointed Collective Architecture of Glasgow to turn a section of The Briggait building in the city into the Creation Centre.

The architects will lead the second phase of the redevelopment of The Briggait, a Grade A-listed complex in the city's Merchant City, which is already the Wasps HQ and studios, work and rehearsal space for artists, performers and arts companies.

The £4 million Briggait Creation Centre will give Glasgow a "public base for dance and Scotland's first purpose built accessible space for disabled dancers", Wasps said.

It will also provide facilities for the physical performance art forms - including circus, street theatre, flying trapeze and other aerial skills.

Audrey Carlin, Wasps' executive director for corporate services, said: "This is a project of huge value to the future of the arts in Scotland.

"We are extremely pleased to have architects on board who have such a clear commitment to the project and a sense of excitement about what can be achieved.

"We are providing professional and amateur artists and performers with an amazing new centre where they can come together to work, rehearse, hold classes, plan collaborations and perform shows.

"At the same time the project will ensure that one of Glasgow's most important historic buildings is sensitively redeveloped to give it a sustainable future and to contribute further to the regeneration of the Clyde waterfront and Merchant City."

Built in several stages between 1873 and 1904, and with a 17th century stone tower, The Briggait was once the city's fish market and has Scotland's oldest surviving collection of market halls.

The Briggait Creation Centre will include 12,000 square foot in areas which date from 1889 and 1904 as well as a gap site currently used for parking and deliveries.

One of the main external changes will be a new entrance facing the river Clyde.

Inside there will be six dance/physical performance studios from 1,200 sqft to 5,000 sqft, a space specially equipped for flying trapeze, changing facilities for disabled users and a cafe.

Jude Barber, project director for Collective Architecture, said: "Our practice has great admiration for Wasps, their partners and the work they do.

"We are familiar with the wonderful Briggait building, which involves many exciting opportunities and challenges. To have the opportunity to develop a major cultural centre within such a splendid historical setting overlooking the River Clyde is incredibly special.

"Our team has only just commenced work on the project, but we are really looking forward to immersing ourselves in the process with the consultant team at Arup."

The project is being made in collaboration with four arts charities - Dance House, Conflux, Indepen-dance and YDance.