Following a decade-long closure that sparked local uproar, Durham’s newly transformed venue, The Light, opens its doors on August 22. Funded by a £17 million redevelopment, the cultural hub features military galleries alongside 500 square meters of contemporary art space displaying works by Tracey Emin and Steve McQueen.
From Military History to Modern Art: The Transformation of The Light
The building on Aykley Heads in Durham has undergone a massive £17 million transformation following the closure of the former Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery 10 years ago. That initial closure generated considerable public outcry across the local community.
Today, the revitalized venue balances its military heritage with contemporary culture. The ground floor houses galleries dedicated to telling military stories in a modern and human format. Upstairs, visitors find 500 square meters of dedicated space for contemporary art.
Opening Exhibitions and International Significance
The inaugural exhibition establishes the venue’s ambition to showcase work of international caliber in north-east England. The display features prominent names including Tracey Emin, Steve McQueen, and Olafur Eliasson. Additional works come from American fluorescent light artist Dan Flavin and Cuban-born conceptual artist Félix González-Torres.
Natasha Howes, the curator of the opening show, explained her deliberate approach to representation in the galleries. Last year I was looking at a festival in Spain and I think there were 30 artists and no women,
she said, as reported by the Guardian, noting that she worked hard to include a strong presence of women and global majority artists.
An Unforgettable Opening Weekend and Community Programming
The opening celebrations begin on Saturday, August 22, with a packed schedule of outdoor and indoor events spanning the remainder of the school holidays. Visitors can explore free drop-in creative workshops, experiment with fluorescent materials in a glowing creative playground, and contribute to a growing illuminated lantern sculpture.
Outdoor entertainment features the Pittington Brass Band playing sets on the opening Saturday, alongside stilt walkers, disco-ball-headed dancers, and choreographed fire-spinning from The Cequin Circus. Sunday brings live performances from North East singer-songwriters including Steve Pledger, Ani Sandwith, Sam Slatcher, and Hels Pattison.
“It’s not every day you get to launch a venue as special as The Light, which is why we are pulling out all the stops to deliver an unforgettable opening weekend.”
Cllr Karen Allison, Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, via Durham County Council
Allison added that the £1.5 billion tourism economy stands to benefit from the venue’s ability to attract visitors and raise aspirations among young people in the county.
Regional Cultural Investment and Decentralization
The launch of The Light fits into a broader regional pattern of publicly funded contemporary art spaces opening outside London, following venues like the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead and Middlesbrough’s Mima. However, such regional cultural investments have largely slowed down in recent years.
Artistic Director Tony Guillan, who grew up on Tyneside and returned to the region after working in London at institutions like the Tate and the Southbank Centre, highlighted the centralization of the creative industries. Why do you have to leave and move so far away if you want to have a certain type of career?
he noted, pointing out how heavily concentrated industries remain in London.
Operating within a county council recently impacted by shifting political leadership—where Reform runs the council following the 2024 local elections—Guillan remains confident in the venue’s artistic freedom. It’s our role to create the space for dialogue,
he stated, noting that local politicians and corporate leadership have responded positively to the venue’s ambitions.
Summer Holiday Workshops and Visitor Information
Following the opening weekend, a series of artist-led workshops for children aged eight and over will run daily through the end of the school holidays. These sessions are priced at £8 per child with accompanying adults free, covering mediums from gelli printing to cyanotype botanicals.
| Workshop | Artist | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Gelli printing | Nick Christie | Monday 24 August |
| Watercolours | Suzanne Williams | Tuesday 25 August |
| Sunlight Guardians mixed media | Stephanie Archer | Wednesday 26 August |
| Marvellous mosaics | Susan Warlock | Thursday 27 August |
| Cyanotype Printing with Botanicals | Botanicals focus | Friday 28 August |
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