The £13.6 million refurbishment of Birmingham's Midlands Art Centre has been blasted as "a triumph of spin over substance" by the chairman of a national puppeteering organisation.
Clive Chandler, of PuppeteersUK (PUK), launched an attack on the scheme - which will benefit both the mac and South Asian arts organisation Sampad - as part of his comments on a Birmingham Post blog by Sid Langley.
Mr Chandler said: "It seems odd to spend £13 million on a shiny new four-wheel drive to tow a 40-year-old caravan."
Attacking the mac's plans, he said: "If you believe their own publicity machine, you would think that Birmingham is about to get an exciting new arts centre. However, a cursory glance at the plans on display make it very plain that what they are doing is building a new cafe and administration block.
"There is still, after all these years of talking about it, no new theatre. Yes, the building needs to be stabilised and made watertight and yes it needs better access and lifts, but what a shame that in real terms the level of artistic facilities is not to be improved.
"Mac can never flourish until it builds artistic spaces and has real artists working in them."
Last week, The Birmingham Post reported on the Maestro Steel Orchestra's claims it had been booted out of the mac - where it had been set up in 1974 - by "middle class arty types".
N orman Stewart, leader of the band, said there was no space allocated for the orchestra in the new building plans but a mac spokesman rejected his claims the group had been told to leave.
As part of his blog comment, Mr Chandler added: "The partnership with the Sampad is to be admired and has clearly been a useful lever to gain funding, but whatever happened to Cannon Hill Puppet Company, Maestro Steel band, Stage Two Youth theatre and many other groups that once lived and breathed at the mac?"
In addition, he complained about the centre's use of the phrase "Puppet Extravaganza" - the name of an event run by Birmingham-based organisation PuppetLink - to describe a puppetry event to mark the mac's farewell weekend before it closes for renovation.
"PuppetLink is officially furious that mac has simply stolen the name," he said. "The Extravaganza has been built up over the years by PuppetLink using money that it has raised from Arts Council. Mac's contribution has been the venue.
"It is an act of arrogance for mac to think it can do on a shoestring what PuppetLink has achieved with real passion and proper funding."
Yesterday, at an auction of 250 puppets at the centre organised by Mr Chandler, he refused to comment further on his remarks, describing it as a "personal matter".
Dorothy Wilson, director of the mac, said she was saddened by what Mr Chandler has said, adding that he was "not well informed".
Referring to his comments about the mac using the term "Puppet Extravaganza", she added: "It is just a simple mistake in copyright. It's unfortunate and I regret it and I apologise."
Jointly funded by Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council, and a mac and Sampad fundraising campaign, the building plans aim to dramatically improve physical access creating a more effective and efficient arts centre. A new three-storey building - connecting all the existing buildings and house - will be built with a new gallery, enlarged and improved bar, cafe, social areas, toilets and consolidated open-plan offices for the mac and Sampad.
Changes to the existing buildings will include a 200msq performing arts studio, an improved reception and ticket office, and an extra function and meeting room.
