THE ArtSpace has come up with a solution, if any of the sparky York gallery's shows escaped your gaze in 2006: a Greatest Hits package to see out the old, see in the new.

"We're pretty proud of the potpourri of exhibitions we've put on, so now we've come over all Top Of The Pops Christmas Special and winkle-picked the highlights, " says gallery co-owner Greg McGee.

"Think of it as something like Now That's What I Call Artistic - Vol 1."

The best of Retro Techno, Femininity, Colour! and Sleight Of Hand shares the Tower Street stage for six weeks. The resulting cacophony may smart the eye, but in a good way.

"Top-quality art and fun can be cosy bedfellows after all, despite what certain miserable, selfappointed chatterati maintain, " insists co-owner Ails Denholm.

"Femininity back in February was our first serious 'concept exhibition', and we've got the best of what was displayed, but sadly there's no Sasha Consiglio and her 'dead dollies in coffins'. She's moved down south to be with her parents as she readies to give birth any day now. Good luck Sasha!"

Greg reckons no other artist in York matches Consiglio's viciously witty vision, but he points to the theme being supported handsomely by Carla Ballantine's photography, nudes by Derek Hodson and the ubiquitous Malcolm Ludvigsen, and the stylised femininity of the gallery's new favourite, Nell.

"We photographed one of Nell's pieces for the front cover of Aesthetica magazine, the fastestgrowing culture magazine in Britain, and we knew we had to involve her in The ArtSpace, " says Greg.

Retro Techno, a celebration of art, graphic design and rock'n'roll first collated in April, includes Lee Jeffs, Doug James from Mode Graphic Design, Carla Ballantine, Jim Stafford and Dexter.

Sleight Of Hand dovetailed with the York Magic Festival in May, and David Kettley, Magda Brieger and Simon Wallace return with their "enchanting reminders of all things enchanting".

The summer exhibition, Colour! , was not only concerned with canvases coated with bright paint but also looked at the influence of York on artists who came from different cultural backgrounds.

Back on show are British Indian Kalindi's citra fusion work, influenced by the Indian festival of Holi; Linda Foo Tomlinson's Bureau de Change - 100 Symbols, her look at her Chinese roots; and Indonesian artist Tato's mixture of Indonesian and British scenes.

"There'll always be quirky, gorgeous, collectable art at the The ArtSpace, and it's great to see that Artfulness on Goodramgate is flying the flag too, or Kindom in Low Petergate, or pretty much half of Gillygate, " says Ails. "It's all affordable art, all infinitely cooler than the rubbish peddled by those soulless shops every city in the UK seems to nurture."

Greg signs off 2006 with thoughts of Christmas present and Christmas future: "Greatest Hits allows us to celebrate the artists who've worked with us all year. It's already been recommended by The Times as one of the top five Must See exhibitions of the month."

The ArtSpace is open Monday to Thursday, 10.30am to 9pm; Friday, 10.30am to 8pm; Saturday, Sunday, 10.30am to 5pm.