The Greater Easterhouse Cultural Campus will include an arts centre, a swimming pool and rehearsal studios in the area.

It is hoped that the development - which is due for completion in 2004 - will help the area shake off negative associations as well as making it a better place to live.

It has taken several years to find the £9m needed to set the project in motion.

Funding has come from a variety of sources, including Glasgow City Council, NHS Scotland, the National Lottery, Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Enterprise.

Visiting companies

The swimming pool will be refurbished and a new arts factory will be built alongside it.

The site will contain an auditorium for visiting companies and rehearsal rooms for would-be performers.

There will be also be a new community library and links to the existing resources in the area's John Wheatley College.