Ipswich Art School

About us

The Ipswich Art School gallery is the newest addition to Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service.

This much-loved building is on loan by Suffolk New College for use as a temporary gallery space until March 2012.  The 1930s northern extension of the building which came to house the bulk of the Art School is currently up for sale and the intention is to raise the funds to purchase it and once again reconnect it to the museum buildings.

Within the Art School element will be a major series of gallery spaces to display 20th century and contemporary art. These galleries will focus on: Contemporary art of national importance; the strengths of the Ipswich Art collection in the works by artists associated with the 'Benton End Group' and the Ipswich Art School, and providing a venue for artists to work through residencies and studio spaces for students.  As part of this process, temporary possession of the Art School Building has been obtained to display loaned contemporary art works.

With the support of the Arts Council England the gallery opened in summer 2010 with its inaugural show 'The Saatchi Gallery at Ipswich Art School' which has been followed by further successful temporary exhibitions.

For more information on fundraising or making a donation please click here.
 

Volunteering at Ipswich Art School
 

More than 200 volunteers are already working with the Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service to enable free admission, six days a week to the Ipswich Art School gallery. Without their support the future of the Ipswich Art School simply could not be achieved.  To find out more click here.

 

Comments from supporters of the project:

"My beginnings were at Ipswich Art School. Its restoration as a place of vision would call attention to the inherent richness of this place and its continuing inspiration for artists."
Maggi Hambling, CBE, celebrated artist and former IAS pupil

"We are hugely enthusiastic about the space, the scheme and the plans and have asked the Trustees of our charitable trust to make a substantial donation on this project. We will be very surprised if in 10-20 years time this has not become an important feature on the arts scene not just in Ipswich but in the UK"
Dennis Stevenson (Lord Stevenson of Coddenham) former Chairman of the Trustees of the Tate 
 
"I am pleased to lend my support to this exciting project. Restoring the Ipswich Art School to its proper use as a gallery and placing it at the heart of a plan to rejuvenate a much-loved Victorian museum would be an excellent contribution to the development of this region's cultural output."
Griff Rhys Jones, celebrated actor, comedian and writer

A spokesperson for Saatchi said, "We are happy that the former Art School will once again have a strong educational reach. We hope that the many schools that visit the Saatchi Gallery in London will be encouraged to visit the new museum in Ipswich to enable even more students to see contemporary art first-hand on a regular basis." 
 

Partners

Partnership working is crucial in our ongoing ambition to present a broad and diverse programme that reflects the local audience and while being responsive to themes and initiatives across the region and beyond.

Some ongoing and project based partners include:

  • Ipswich Borough Council
  • Colchester Borough Council
  • Suffolk New College
  • University Campus Suffolk
  • New Wolsey Theatre
  • Eastern Pavilions – links with other art communities, download edition
  • Ip-art
  • Fine Line : a cultural practice
  • DanceEast
  • Royal Opera House
  • IP1 Magazine
  •  Inside Out
  • CSV Media Club House, Ipswich
     
Eastern Pavilions/ Turning Point East

Ipswich Art School are participating in Eastern Pavilions is a project delivered collaboratively by twelve visual arts organisations from across the eastern region. It explores new ways of working together and builds on the diverse and exciting range of activity that is being undertaken there. The other organisations include,

  • Smiths Row
  • Bedford Creative Arts Kaavous Boyhroo
  • Norwich Castle Museum & Art Galleries University of Essex/ Art Exchange
  • OUTPOST Gallery
  • University of Hertfordshire Galleries
  • Wysing Arts Centre
  • firstsite
  • Kettles Yard
  • Focal Point

Full listings and information can be found on each of the participating organisations pages at http://www.easternpavilions.org.