People asked to befriend the arts

The money will be used to add to MIMA's permanent collection

A flagship gallery on Teesside is to ask people to help financially in a bid to bring more art to the region.

Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) will start a "friends' scheme" to generate support and extra funding for the gallery.

The money, in addition to other funds, will help bring more pieces of art permanently to the centre.

MIMA Friends, a not-for-profit organisation, will be launched at the gallery at the end of October.

The contemporary arts centre opened in 2007.

Director Godfrey Worlsey said: "It's a mutually beneficial scheme, we offer lots of incentives to friends' group members.

"People pay and we generate more money to acquire more art.

"It's a fantastic thing to do for Middlesbrough and its future."