Sandwell Council bosses confirm closure of The Public
Sandwell Council bosses have confirmed that The Public arts centre in West Bromwich will close later this year after they agreed to pull public funding on the building.
At a cabinet meeting councillors voted to end the contract with Sandwell Arts Trust because they could no longer afford to continue running the building at a cost of £30,000 a week.
Council leader Darren Cooper said: "Sandwell Arts Trust didn't want any further short-term agreements and asked us for a minimum five-year deal. We are not in a position to offer this because of the current economic climate and central government cuts the council is facing year on year.
"Sandwell Arts Trust have done a great job but the financial circumstances mean The Public can't continue in its current form."
He added that the decision had been made to protect frontline services as the growing cuts from central governments continued to place pressure on the council.
It was announced last week by the trust that the facility would close on November 30 but Councillor Cooper tried to reassure people that a use would be found.
He said: "We are still committed to securing the building's long-term future and are looking at a number of options. Depending on the long-term plan we agree, the building may well need to shut temporarily for a period of time for work to be carried out, but I stress again that this would not be permanent."
The council are now in talks with other groups to secure the long term future of the building which include proposals to turn the building into a sixth form and lifelong learning centre – with arts, community and business provision too.
