Curtain comes down on The Public
Tears, laughter and 'good memories' brought down the curtain on The Public as the arts centre closed its doors for good.
Thousands of visitors poured through the doors of the landmark building in West Bromwich on Saturday to look around the venue for the last time.
And hundreds more packed out a concert by covers band the Busby Babes to give the centre the best, and loudest, farewell possible before the doors closed for the final time around 11pm.
Many who came along for the final day, which featured performances by the Sylvia Brennan School of Dance among others, said they were frustrated the plug had been pulled on the venue.
A scrapbook was created on one wall celebrating the many acts and exhibitions which had been held at the venue.
And messages of support written on tags could also be seen on one wall.
Screens at the venue had Thanks for the Memories written in white against a vivid pink background. Visitors on the last day were treated to performances by dance groups and also got the chance to get fit with a Zumba class.
Margaret Donnelly, a 46-year-old nurse from Smethwick, brought along her son Seamus, five, and niece and nephew Kian and Sinead Wells to look around the site for the final time.
"It is absolutely devastating. In my view The Public is one of the best things to have happened to West Bromwich," she said.
"I have come to see a lot of events and shows and they have all been fantastic. It has also been a great place to bring children to learn new things. I think it a very sad day for the town."
Rozie White, a 47-year-old artist from Gorsty Hill, Rowley Regis, said she had exhibited works at the venue and was 'gutted' to see it go. She brought along her five-year-old daughter Bonnie to look around the site one last time. "The decision to close The Public now makes no sense.
With the completion of New Square this is the time the venue is most needed. Instead it is being shut.
Managing Director of the venue Linda Saunders fought back the tears as she thanked staff for their hard work over the years.
"We have succeeded in making The Public a place which is loved by the people of West Bromwich and beyond. It is a very sad day but we have all worked tremendously hard," she said.
Sandwell Mayor Linda Horton said: "I was here at the opening when many were very much against even the idea of an arts centre in Sandwell and branded it complete nonsense. Now we are here to celebrate its life and mourn its passing as many are now so very much for the idea of an arts centre in Sandwell. We have gone full circle in a very short time."
The £72 million site, which opened under a storm of controversy in 2008, is being taken over and transformed into a sixth form by Sandwell College and is due to open in September 2014.
