The mysterious Black Country ‘ghostwriter’, known simply as AJW, has backed The Public in West Bromwich. 

The Black Country’s very own Banksy posted a selection of his infamous beer mats to the venue with accompanying message of support.

For half a century the mysterious artist, whose identity remains unknown, has been baffling locals by leaving sketches of 1940s Hollywood star Mario Lanza throughout the region.  Over the years thousands of legendary doodlings of the American Tenor have been drawn on to beer mats, postcards and scraps of paper, and left across the Black Country in pubs, shops, libraries and public buildings.

Earlier this year, The Public exhibited a selection of his artworks and screened a short film, in a special exhibition curated by AJW enthusiast and professional documentary film maker Barney Snow.

Since the announcement by Sandwell Council that they were looking into alternative uses for the building, The Public have been inundated by messages of support.  LearnPlay Foundation, one of the tenants within the building have launched a campaign, #LoveOurPublic, where members of the community can share their messages of support and sign an online petition.  More information about the campaign can be found via www.learnplayfoundation.com/love-our-public.

Linda Saunders, Managing Director of The Public said: “The Public is widely used by the whole community for a diverse range of activities.  We’re absolutely delighted with the continuous messages of support we’ve received from across Sandwell and further afield and are thrilled that Black Country legend, AJW, is backing The Public.”