Sandwell College to take over The Public

Sandwell College chiefs want to take over the £72 million arts centre in West Bromwich just five years after it opened in 2008.

Sandwell Council took over the management of the centre in 2009 after the Arts Council walked away, and continues to pump £1.5 million a year into the building.

Today, council leader Councillor Darren Cooper admitted the arts centre was a mistake from the start.

He said: "I would say at the beginning it was a mistake, in those days I personally spoke out about it. We have gone as far as we can with it and with the cuts that we face as a local authority we are looking at the long term future and whether we can continue to afford to put money into it."

College chiefs say the New Street centre, which has been plagued by controversy since its opening, would be a 'perfect fit' for a sixth form.

The news could serve as a nail in the coffin for The Public's role as an arts centre and see the loss of jobs.

As well as holding exhibitions, events and entertainment, the building is also home to 27 companies employing about 60 people, in addition to its own staff.

Sandwell's deputy council leader Councillor Mahboob Hussain said it was hoped to retain some form of art pres,ence at the building, but that entertainment and events were likely to be moved to the Town Hall in West Bromwich High Street.

Building work on the iconic pink and black structure, designed by architect Will Alsop, started in 1995 and after a number of delays the centre finally opened in 2008.

In 2001 the Arts Council was accused of funding a building that was 'not fit for purpose' in a damning report into the organisation's role in building the centre.

The report by Anthony Blackstock, which was commissioned by Arts Council England in response to a critical parliamentary report by MPs, issues a damning verdict on the role the Arts Council played as the project's principal capital financier.

The report concluded that The Public represents limited value for money. The Arts Council contributed £31.8m to the project, increased from an original allocation of £19m.

The building will continue to be run as an arts centre until any decision is made.

Sandwell College Principal Val Bailey said today: "We have invested heavily in top-quality staff for the 30 A-level courses we offer, which put a strong emphasis on academic standards and encouraging students to go on to university. We had over 1,000 applications for our sixth form last year and have already had almost 1,300 this year – not only from Sandwell but also our 'travel to learn' area in Birmingham and the wider Black Country.

"We want to add to the 250 A-level places we can offer in each year and moving our sixth form to The Public – and doubling it in size – is an option for us."

She added: "It's the only building for miles around that's as iconic as our own, and the two could be a perfect fit. Moving there would also free up space in our campus to expand our vocational courses, for which demand is also growing.

"We are exploring options with the council and this is something we are very keen to progress." Work on building The Public stopped in 2006 after the company running the project went into administration.

Sandwell Council then stepped in and put together a plan to complete the centre, which opened its doors in 2008 and is currently run by Sandwell Arts Trust.

Councillor Hussain added: "After rescuing The Public from administration, we want to make sure it has a long-term future.

"Expanding the college there could be a massive boost to the educational opportunities on offer in Sandwell – especially with proposals for a new University Technical College, which the College is a partner in."

Looking to a brighter future - See today's Sandwell Express & Star