The gallery's opening was delayed because of security issues

The £19m Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (Mima) opened on 26 January after a two-year building programme.

The site, with eight exhibition spaces, an auditorium and conservation studio, is set to attract an estimated 110,000 visitors a year.

The gallery's first exhibitions included works from Picasso, Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst.

The building was designed by Dutch architects Erick van Egeraat Associated.

Claire Pounder, education officer at the gallery, said: "We've had almost 25,000 visitors to Mima since it opened, including art experts from all over the country."

Construction of the complex started in July 2004, but a planned opening for 2006 was delayed because of environmental and security issues.

The modern and contemporary art collection comprises more than 1,000 paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and sculpture which include works by Ben Nicholson, David Bomberg, LS Lowry, Stanley Spencer, Gwen John, David Hockney and Bridget Riley.