Delight for bosses as Pam is visitor number one million at The Public

The milestone at the West Bromwich venue was reached when Pam George, from Walsall, stepped through the iconic building's pink doors yesterday.

It comes after The Public, which could be turned into a sixth form under radical plans by Sandwell College and Sandwell Council, reported its most successful month last month with 43,633 visitors. This was up 44 per cent on the same month last year.

It is also celebrating its best year with 383,336 visitors between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2013, up 46 per cent on last year.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be The Public's one millionth visitor," said Ms George, who works at Pertemps and popped in during her lunch break with colleague Jez King.

"I absolutely love the place and visit each Thursday for lunch with friends. Every time the exhibitions change I make sure I come along, and tell friends all about it."

The Public opened in August 2009 and welcomed its 500,000th visitor last April.

Managing director Linda Saunders said: "Our one millionth visitor is a real significant achievement in the history of The Public and comes a few months before our fourth birthday and on the eve of the opening of a major new development in West Bromwich.

"Over the last four years we have established a vibrant and creative hub, bringing opportunities to Sandwell and giving local people a focal point and something to be proud of.

"Through our work and the work of our partners, we provide something for all ages and have firmly established ourselves as part of the makeup of the community."

Since it opened, the art centre's programme has featured everything from community events, such as St Patrick's Day celebrations, through to projects featuring international artists working alongside school children to create art.

It has hosted sell out comedy nights, draw big names such as Al Murray and Jenny Éclair to West Bromwich.

It is also home to 30 organisations – many relocating to Sandwell specifically to be part of the building's creative hub, creating 120 jobs in the region and generating 200 opportunities for work experience and apprentices.

But the scope of what the building offers could radically be reduced if plans for Sandwell College to take it over come to fruition. Sandwell Council is seeking to offload The Public in a bid to meet its target of saving £100 million by 2017.

Meanwhile, bosses at the Spon Lane college see it as a way of offering extra places for A Level and AS Level students.