Public taking on new staff
Controversial Black Country arts centre The Public was today advertising for five high-profile managers with salaries of up to £49,000 – despite a damning report that revealed its future is in doubt.
The £72 million project, which is running £49m over budget, has been the subject of an audit report which revealed it should be mothballed, decommissioned or even demolished.
But the West Bromwich building was today described as a "fantastic state-of-the-art community arts centre" in an advertisement in The Guardian.
Bosses are looking to fill the following positions:
* Head of Arts Programmes with an annual salary of £46,149 - £49,039
* Business Manager for £37,206 - £41,616 a year
* Marketing and Communications Manager for £31,754 - £36,313
* Exhibitions Manager with a salary of £31,754 - £36,313
* Learning and Community manager for £31,754 - £36,313
The advertisement described The Public as having a "exciting and challenging" future, with bosses wanting "to create a venue that consistently excites the imagination, raises expectations and makes people smile".
Sandwell Council has taken over the project after the Arts Council walked away earlier this year, handing the authority a final £3m of funding. Borough regeneration chief, Councillor Bob Badham, told the Express & Star today: "Whatever I say, it will be a bad news story.
"All I am prepared to say is these jobs were in the business plan that was approved by the Arts Council."
According to the advert, the head of arts job would include "developing an artistic vision for The Public", while the learning and community manager would be "responsible for developing an innovative approach to community learning".
