A memorandum of understanding has been drafted between Angus Council and Hospitalfield House which sets out the support the local authority will give to the multi-million-pound refurbishment project.
The Arbroath arts centre is looking to raise £11.5 million to restore the building for future generations. The plans also include creating a new building to house its art collection and a new accommodation block.
Last week it was announced that the project had received its first major donation, with a £1m grant from Creative Scotland.
No funding is being requested from Angus Council. Hospitalfield Trust aims to source funds from a variety of sources, including the Heritage Lottery Fund.
However, it is hoped that Hospitalfield and the council would form a partnership that would collaborate on exhibitions, that Hospitalfield would provide opportunities for school pupils and that the local authority would support the arts venue.
The memorandum also states that two works by Peter Brueghel owned by Angus Council, which are on display at Arbroath Library, would be loaned to Hospitalfield, to be displayed in its new exhibition space.
The council’s policy and resources committee will tonight be asked to authorise the council’s chief executive Richard Stiff entering into formal dialogue with Hospitalfield’s trust director and board to establish the scope and extent of council support to the scheme.
In his report to councillors, Mr Stiff said: “The future plan for Hospitalfield being developed by the current board of trustees is to create a revitalised, public-facing cultural destination for the 21st Century committed to supporting the research and production of contemporary visual art and inspiring a range of associated creative activity.
“It is intended that this development will raise the profile of Hospitalfield locally, nationally and internationally.
“With a clear commitment to partnership being voiced by the Hospitalfield director and trustees, Angus Council is being seen as a vital partner in making the very most of the trust’s assets.
“With the new V&A to the south and with the development of the city Art Gallery in Aberdeen, this scheme offers great potential for a cultural route along the east coast.”
The timescale for the project includes launching a private fundraising campaign later this year, appointing contractors next September, with work on site starting in January 2016 and the new Hospitalfield opening in December 2017.
Mr Stiff continued: “There are a number of aspects of the proposed development that are supportive of the council’s agenda.
“These include the enhancement of opportunity of local residents, the provisionof new opportunities for learners, improving the attraction of Angus to visitors and tourists and the creation of local employment opportunities.
“It is suggested that these benefits confirm the need for the council to consider the ways in which it can support the delivery of the future plan.”
To date, the council’s education staff have spoken with the trust in relation to collaborative work. Planning and conservation officers have also been consulted.
If given the go-ahead by the policy and resources committee, the discussions between Mr Stiff and the Hospitalfield staff would begin in earnest, with regular update reports brought back to the committee.
The Hospitalfield estate and art collection was bequeathed as a residential art school when former owner Patrick Allan Fraser died in 1890.
The multi-million-pound project will also install light and heating systems, decorate rooms that do not have heritage interiors and restore the estates fernery and gardens.
Hospitalfield director Lucy Byatt said: “The memorandum is about how we can work together more closely to deliver priorities. There may be some work to do with the Angus collections of art, as we have lots of gallery space.
“And there can be some sharing of curatorial knowledge and experience.”