Arts council cash for The Public

The Arts Council has offered £3m funding to a controversial arts complex in the West Midlands.

The council withdrew most of its funding for The Public in West Bromwich in January as an interactive art gallery had not yet opened.

However, it did say it would provide a one-off grant to try to open the whole arts complex to the public.

The council has now accepted a revised business plan from Sandwell Council and has offered the money.

Sandwell Council's cabinet member for regeneration, Bob Badham, said it was a recognition of the good things they were doing.

"We have worked very hard to show a realistic vision for this unique building which has so much to offer," he said.

He said the gallery would be free to visit and that the whole building will be opened to the public for preview visits over the August Bank Holiday.

The Arts Council had previously provided £520,000 a year to The Public, but withdrew its funding saying that although the building was open, the interactive art gallery at the centre of the vision for The Public was not.

The building opened in 2007 and includes performance spaces, a recording studio, offices and a cafe.

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