David Pendleton is curator of Bradford City AFC's bantamspast museum.

The French called them Grands Projets'. Designed to express the confidence of the nation, they were iconic architectural projects that would illuminate the end of the 20th century. Perhaps the best known is the glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris.

My favourite, and one that could be partly replicated in Bradford, was the conversion of an old railway station into the Musee d'Orsay. Though the museum has an unrivalled collection of French Impressionist paintings, arguably the building itself is the star attraction.

With Bradford about to receive a windfall from the sale of Leeds-Bradford Airport, the opportunity has arisen for Bradford to undertake its own grand project.

We already have the imposing building in the shape of the Odeon. Imagine its conversion into a new city centre art gallery? Imagine David Hockney overseeing its rebirth?

The involvement of Britain's most famous living artist would guarantee huge international publicity. Give Hockney a free hand and we would have a gallery that would be the envy of the art world. Bradford's answer to Bilbao's Guggenheim.

Of course, there is already a large Hockney collection at Salts Mill. The difference at the Odeon would be the gallery itself would be designed by Hockney. The actual exhibits could come from the Council's own collection and from new works.

It's the latter where the new development would really stand out. The Odeon could be brought to life with artists' studios and shops. Having artists creating and selling their works on site would give the Odeon an extra edge.

The development would give Bradford a trio of top class attractions - the National Media Museum, Alhambra Theatre and the reborn Odeon.

At a stroke we would save one of Bradford's most loved buildings and put the city back on the tourist map with a vengeance.