A new art gallery and museum could open in Ipswich later this year under new plans currently being explored by Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) and Suffolk New College (SNC).

The proposed facility would be housed in the college-owned former Art School on Ipswich High Street, which currently stands empty and is set to be used as an educational resource for local schools and students. A fundraising campaign is expected to get underway, while the council is planning to submit a bid for support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards the multi-million pound creation of a new cultural hub.

The hub would house the new arts facility along with Ipswich Museum and the New Wolsey Studio under the plans, which are due to be discussed at a meeting of the council's executive next week. IBC arts culture and leisure portfolio holder Judy Terry said: "Ipswich Art School was famous in its day, with alumni like Maggi Hambling and Brian Eno, and it is fitting that it should be re-born as a major contemporary art gallery and museum.

"Of course, there is much work to be done and we want the project to capture the public imagination. This would be a national attraction and of huge importance to developing Ipswich as a cultural centre."