New survival fight for The Public art gallery in West Bromwich

Jul 26 2010 By Matt Lloyd

Just a year after its official opening, the future of the controversial The Public art gallery looks uncertain. Matt Lloyd reports.

During its short history The Public has been dogged by scathing criticism over its unusual design – and the £63 million ploughed into it.

Now, nearly a year after the official opening of the interactive gallery in West Bromwich, described by many as ‘the pink elephant’, it has been revealed that managers have just nine months to secure funding to keep the business afloat.

Run by Sandwell Arts Trust, a division of Sandwell Council, options for funding appear limited after the Arts Council for England and the borough council announced there would be no more money for the gallery.

Coun Steve Eling, Sandwell Council’s deputy leader, said the plan was for The Public to be self funding and a spokesman for the Arts Council said no commitments could be given past next March until a government settlement was announced in the autumn.

However, with possible cuts to the council budget of £23million, further investment in The Public looks doubtful.

Managing director Linda Saunders, who was brought in by Sandwell Council to manage the gallery in April 2009, insisted she would approach both bodies for further funding but admitted finding investment would be a challenge.

“We are talking to the Arts Council and the borough council. We’re also looking at other income generators and funding sources so we’re not relying on the arts council.

“I’m sure it’s going to be challenging but not impossible. Anyone who puts money in will want to see they are going to get value for money and a return on their investment.

“That’s why it’s important to be exciting and different and make sure we’re providing quality and professionalism in everything we do.”

Prior to the official opening last August, the community’s reaction to The Public had been overwhelmingly negative amid reports of spiralling costs and delays in opening.

But, since the doors opened, Mrs Saunders said those voicing disappointment were diminishing.

With the gallery seeing 90,000 visitors pass through its doors in the last financial year and 34,000 this year, the community appears to be warming to it.

The business has also seen success as a conference venue, regularly hosting meetings for local and national organisations.

Next week will also see the last of the building’s ‘lily-pad’ offices rented out to a local company.

“Having tenants in the building was always in the business plan,” Mrs Saunders said. “Once we have a full building, things will feel different because we’ll have lots of people here every day.

“We’ve got a partnership with the Sandwell University of the Third Age who hold their monthly meetings here and we have other groups too.

“That’s about seeing this as a place lots of people come together, it’s not just an art gallery, it’s also a community hub.”

In the first three months of the year about £40,000 was generated from conferences but the income generated is unlikely to be enough to sustain the entire building.

“Most are from the Black Country but we get them from across the country which means bringing money into West Bromwich.”

Mrs Saunders added that as people have got used to The Public it has develops more into a community facility.

“There are people who are against The Public but they are getting smaller in number,” she said. “Once people cross the threshold they seem to warm to us.

“Analysing customer comments a high number of them were positive about the building and the staff who are very committed. We’re in an area of high deprivation so we must make a difference to people’s lives, the staff here know how much it matters.

"We’re getting a lot of repeat visitors and over half of the people coming are coming to see the gallery and have a cup of coffee.

“We had 1,200 people here for St Patrick’s day, last year we had 3,000 for the Fudgestock festival raising money for Macmillan Cancer. That’s what the this building has to be about. We’re a community and an arts venue.”