At long last and after a variety of alarms and excursions, the Dome complex in Brighton is just about ready to open to audiences again.

It has been a long, hard battle to drag a building of that age and complexity into the 21st Century without destroying it at the expense of good acoustics and audience comfort.

One of the first organisations to use the new auditorium will be the Brighton and Hove Philharmonic Society, itself an organisation of very long standing.

It has gone through a very difficult period and in many ways has been lucky to survive.

A very loyal audience and the devotion of a small office staff has enabled it to come through its banishment from the Dome, its home for many years since its beginnings as a small municipal orchestra under Herbert Menges.

Under the current conductor, Barry Wordsworth, it is one of the finest orchestras around and has brought a very high standard of musicianship to the city.

But we should be under no illusions as to the future of the Phil if the support is not forthcoming from the citizens of this would-be City of Culture.

Putting on concerts is costly and it is seldom a profit is made, unless you charge the kind of seat prices which would not be sustainable during a season of some 12 concerts.

And the council has withdrawn its entire grant.

The society has a legacy fund to which a number of loyal supporters have bequeathed money to ensure future generations will be able to enjoy the music. But in some ways it has backfired on the society, as council rules state grants are not given if a group or society has funds.

To some extent that is understandable but the society is providing an artistic commodity for the city at no cost to the council and there are those who feel that, since the orchestra pays the usual charges for the hall and does not make a profit on the concerts, some financial help would not come amiss.

A loyal audience has followed the society through three difficult seasons in the Theatre Royal, Hove Town Hall and the Corn Exchange with barely a grumble.

But a quick look round at those attending shows the audience profile is predominantly retired people and there is an urgent need for younger blood.

The society is obviously banking on the new surroundings having an invigorating effect on audiences.

It would be a tragedy if, having survived the traumas of the last three years, the orchestra found it could not survive in its safe haven in the splendid new Dome.

It is up to the citizens of Brighton and Hove to ensure the survival of an institution of which they should be enormously proud.

All the signs are good, with some great programmes lined up for the final three concerts of this season, and planning is well advanced for next year.

If Brighton and Hove is chucking its hat into the ring to be Europe's Capital of Culture it could find the philharmonic orchestra is a great shot to have in its locker, just to mix my metaphors!

The council could even consider funding a concert to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Queen, to whom it paid such homage that she granted city status. That would kill two birds with one stone; help the orchestra and satisfy those who feel it is mean of the council not to pay any attention to the Jubilee.

But I won't hold my breath.