Tax-funded gallery charges public

The Public is due to reopen at the end of June

An art gallery which was saved by taxpayers' money will charge people almost £7 to enter.

The Public arts centre in West Bromwich was taken over by Sandwell Council after its owners went into administration in 2006.

It was effectively saved by a government grant of £1.6m and is expected to reopen its doors again at the end of June.

The Public Gallery says it will feature top artists and is "good value".

Adults will be charged £6.95 to enter the gallery while concessions will be charged £4.95. A family ticket would cost £20.

Most art galleries in the West Midlands are free to the public.

Fiona McEvoy, of the West Midlands Taxpayers Alliance, said: "This is charging people for what up to now has been the main event, which is the interactive art gallery, is just indicative of the hand-fisted approach of this project.

"Everyone knows it's overrun and everyone knows it's vastly over-budget.

Some residents say the entrance fee is "a bit much"

She added: "We all hoped that we would get something at the end of this. We hoped we would get an art gallery that is for everyone in the Sandwell area who had to pay through the nose for this to be finished."

However, Marlene Smith, Public Gallery director, said it would include some of the world's leading artists and was "good value for visitors and taxpayers alike".

"Our aim was to appeal both to people who don't normally go to galleries, and art aficionados alike," she said.

"We wanted to give people a reason to get off the Metro at West Brom Central and spend the day here.

"This would include setting a ticket price and a business case that could sustain this activity and make it thrive."

She added the gallery brought together "amazing architecture, art ideas and technologies to create an experience for our visitors that is both innovative and fun".