The Public Gallery in West Bromwich had still not opened as Museums Journal went to press last month.
The building, which is owned and run by Sandwell Borough Council, opened in June, but the gallery space, which is arts council-funded and run by a separate company, remained closed for user-testing. A spokeswoman for the gallery said she hoped that it would be open by the beginning of August.
Museums Journal has also learned that the council has had to put in an extra £3m to fund the project. According to a spokeswoman for the council, the final accounts for the building showed a £3m shortfall, and the council agreed to foot the bill at a cabinet meeting last month.
The venue has been beset by problems. The original cost of £38m shot up to £55m and the building opened two years behind schedule after it went into administration and had to be rescued by the council.
The building, which is owned and run by Sandwell Borough Council, opened in June, but the gallery space, which is arts council-funded and run by a separate company, remained closed for user-testing. A spokeswoman for the gallery said she hoped that it would be open by the beginning of August.
Museums Journal has also learned that the council has had to put in an extra £3m to fund the project. According to a spokeswoman for the council, the final accounts for the building showed a £3m shortfall, and the council agreed to foot the bill at a cabinet meeting last month.
The venue has been beset by problems. The original cost of £38m shot up to £55m and the building opened two years behind schedule after it went into administration and had to be rescued by the council.
