Its very walls and rooms were planned with rebellion in mind.

From the moment Sir Basil Spence's eccentric design for the Gardner Arts Centre was revealed it was clear this was going to be a venue destined to cut against the grain of conventionality.

The modernist building challenged traditional ideas of architecture but went on to become a modernist icon and get Grade II listing. Similarly, it is the centre's reputation for risk taking that has won it international acclaim.

The Gardner has steered theatre and dance into unchartered territory for almost four decades and been at the forefront of contemporary art in Brighton and Hove. The journey finishes at the end of the month when it puts on its last show.

The Gardner is being forced to shut because of huge funding cuts.

Both the Arts Council and Brighton and Hove City Council chose to concentrate funding on city centre arts venues instead.

The city council withdrew its annual £30,000 grant in favour of other arts groups and the Arts Council also announced it was stopping its funding from July.

Faced with the cash shortfall, coupled with the need for about £12.5 million of improvements and repairs to be carried out to the building, the Gardner's board decided to close it.

Deborah Grubb, chairwoman of the board, said: "This last season has been terrific and has gone really well.

"We're delighted because we wanted to have a successful last season. We've more than met our financial targets and will go out on a high. I have to say the staff have been remarkable in terms of their sheer, consummate professionalism, their standard of organisation, the way they have continued to run it superbly and deal with the public.

"It's been devastating for the staff and also pretty devastating for members of the board who were faced with having to take a decision which they absolutely didn't want to have to do.

"I don't think people will realise what the Gardner has done and how important it is until it's gone. We have been innovative, cutting edge and ran a programme at the riskier end of the business.

"I shall miss it greatly and it will be a huge loss to the arts in the area."

Ms Grubb said one of her highlights was Wim Vandekeybus's contemporary dance show Spiegel last week.

She said: "It was amazing and kept me on the edge of my seat with just the sheer risk taking, but there have been so many unforgettable experiences over the years."

Claire Soper, head of programme and education, agreed, saying: "Wim Vandekeybus has been one of the highlights of my time here. There is so much energy and enthusiasm in their performance and to watch how they contort their bodies was amazing. At points you thought they were going to fall off the edge of the stage and there was a real buzz of adrenaline in the auditorium.

"That's what we've been trying to bring to Brighton - to have an auditorium full of people completely blown away by what they have seen, and to know they are going to remember that for a long time.

"The Gardner is always trying to do something creative with the space here and trying to produce work which excites people, challenges them - it's about taking these risks to provide an arts experience that is quite unique. It's about young generations coming here from an early age and inspiring them to come to live performances throughout their lives."

Since 1999 there have been more than 4,000 educational workshops, classes, talks and demonstrations at the Gardner, with 16,000 people taking part.

Miss Soper said: "That is an incredible amount of people and it shows how crucial the work of the Gardner has been in making the arts available.

"At the same time, what has been equally inspiring and personally rewarding is the success of the work we do with young offenders. To see these kids come off that stage where they have been the centre of attention and to see the confidence and sense of pride it gives them is amazing.

"Whether it has been working with a person who has started learning to sculpt in their 60s, a young offender who has never been in a theatre before or a professional dance company, it all adds to the mix of creativity here in its different forms.

"Over the years I've been working for the Gardner Arts Centre, what has excited me and inspired me is the vision of the programme we are presenting, whether it's working with exciting theatre companies or exploring different ways of using the building and the environment around the arts centre as well.

"We have discovered so many new and vibrant talents in Brighton, supported them, encouraged and nurtured them and seen them get success."

She said Dream, Speak, Think was a company which started out with the Gardner, became well-known on the Brighton arts scene and then internationally.

Leading sculptor and Turner Prize winner Rachel Whiteread was another artist who showed her work at the Gardner before taking the same exhibition to Tate Modern in London.

Miss Soper added: "From a personal point of view it's very sad to be seeing all the work we have done over the last 38 years come to a finish.

"The number of people who have passed through these doors during that time must be hundreds of thousands and that has to be celebrated and respected."

Director Sue Webster said: "The Gardner has played a pivotal role in making Brighton the cultural hub it is today.

"It has contributed greatly not only to the cultural atmosphere of the city, but also to the region. I'd like it to be remembered with fondness and I'd also like there to be a bit of regret that there has been such a gap left in the arts scene.

"I want people to think of the Gardner as providing good quality and often thought provoking work that made a difference."