A ROOFTOP walk, street performers and Rodin’s The Kiss are all being mooted as the answer to rejuvenating Colchester’s crisis-ridden gallery, Firstsite.

Interim director Anthony Roberts and chairman Noorzaman Rashid presented their plans for the future to councillors at a meeting of Colchester Council’s scrutiny committee.

Other ideas include a mix of exhibitions, loans of masterpieces and having accessible performances.

One of Mr Roberts’ ideas is to have walks across Firstsite’s roof and also plans for a golden slide.

It was inspired by people being able to climb the O2 building in London’s docklands.

Mr Roberts said: “It is brilliant up there. So I thought let’s find out about it.

“We have to come up with the cheapest way to do it.”

Art gallery bosses have also been inspired by the street performers and artists which perform along London’s Southbank.

Dr Rashid said there was “no reason” the space outside Firstsite could not be used in a similar way.

It would be nicknamed the “Gold Square”.

He said: “Twenty years ago Southbank in London was dead. Today if you go there, there is something there every day.”

The pair hope getting notable art works could help with the mission of turning round Firstsite’s fortunes.

Firstsite was one of two projects across England to be placed under a special funding agreement by Arts Council England earlier this year.

Dr Rashid was appointed chairman to the gallery last month, but warned it would take at least 12 months to stabilise the gallery’s finance.

The gallery is also looking to bring Rodin’s The Kiss to Colchester.

Tim Young, councillor responsible for the arts on Colchester Council, said if the gallery could bring in works by artists such as Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry people would be “be queuing down the block” to see them.

Some councillors on the scrutiny committee had criticised some of the “contemporary” works displayed in the gallery.

Deputy chairman Marcus Harrington said: “A lot of people would say it is just not art at all and is not something they would go back and see again. They don’t like a pile of rubble or engineering bricks.”