Arts Council England (ACE) has refused further funding to The Public in West Bromwich, following a request by the digital gallery for an increased annual grant of £1.5m from 2011 and a one-off grant of £3m to open the building fully. The Public received £507,165 in core funding in 2008/09, which was due to rise to £534,922 by 2010/11. ACE will now make up to £3m available to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) to develop “a revised integrated artistic and business plan and to bring the building fully into public use”. Currently, the building is open, but the purpose-built, interactive digital art gallery remains closed. The Public has had a troubled history, having failed to remain within its £53.9m construction budget (which included a £26.5m Lottery grant from ACE and major funding from the Regional Development Agency Advantage West Midlands and SMBC), and calling in receivers before its intended opening in June 2006 (AP117). Following its partial opening in June 2008 (AP167), ACE’s National Council has called a halt to further support. Sir Christopher Frayling, ACE’s outgoing Chair, said, “There comes a point where we have to make a difficult judgement – and regretfully, that moment is now.” ACE added that it “recognises the considerable efforts made by the team at The Public to realise their pioneering and ambitious vision”.
