The Light in Durham will open its doors this weekend

Formerly known as the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum, The Light will welcome the public on Saturday, August 22, with a weekend of events for all ages and a programme for the remainder of the school holidays.

The site previously housed the collection of historic DLI artefacts but closed in 2016 as the building was no longer fit for purpose.

Curator, Charli Summers. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Northern Echo was invited to see a sneak peek of the venue today (August 20) as staff prepare to welcome guests back to the site.

Tony Guillan, creative director of The Light, described the venue as “a building rooted in history but built for the future.”

Tony Guillan, Artistic Director. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

He said: “We’ve got a state-of-the-art facility, incredible new gallery spaces, so it’s really about investing in the endeavour as a sustainable, economic investment, so that we can stage world class exhibitions that people want to come and see.”

Tony, who is originally from Tyneside but has spent much of his career in London, added: “In the past few months, to be working with the team on the install, thinking about future programmes, it’s been mad, but it’s great to see people in the building.

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“I always thought it would be really nice to come back to my home region to do some of the wonderful, exciting things I’ve been doing.

“We’re underserved in the North East in terms of spaces and investment, so when I saw this, I knew this was the project for me.

“It’s very exciting.”

The museum’s first exhibitions are We Are The Durhams: The Durham Light Infantry Exhibition and Victory Over the Sun: Encounters with Light.

Gillian Kirkbride, Durham County Council’s heritage venues and collection manager, who put together the DLI exhibition, said: “We’ve gone for a thematic approach based on personal experiences.

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“All of the stories here are about people, their emotions, the DLI family, the DLI community.

“There are stories we’ve never told before and this exhibition is trying to give you a little break in that idea of the idealised soldier who is just in a trench in the first world war wearing khaki.

“Actually, they’re so much more than that – they’re artists, musicians, astronomers.

“There’s an awful lot of brotherhood and camaraderie.

“There’s an awful lot of light to counteract the dark, which is what we’re trying to get through in this exhibition.”

Natasha Howes, who curated the Victory Over the Sun exhibition, said: “It is a privilege to curate the inaugural exhibition.

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“We have 25 regional, national and international artists here.”

There will also be a range of events regularly held at The Light, including book clubs, concerts and workshops for all ages.

Councillor Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration, and high street, said: “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.

“As the former home of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Durham Art Gallery, we know people will be excited to see how the building has been transformed.”

On Saturday, Pittington Brass Band will perform outdoors, while The Cequin Circus will offer stilt walkers, fire-spinners, and dancers.

Sunday’s line-up includes music from North East singer-songwriters Steve Pledger, Ani Sandwith, Sam Slatcher, and Hels Pattison, as well as more circus performances.

There will also be science-themed lawn games, drop-in workshops, and the chance to contribute to an illuminated lantern sculpture.

There is a gift shop on-site selling lights, soaps, books and a café.

The venue’s gift shop. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The venue’s cafe. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The opening celebrations will continue into the final weeks of the summer holidays with daily art workshops for children aged eight and over, running from 11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm.

The new venue will be a sister site to The Story at Mount Oswald, which provides the permanent home to the DLI collection.

Entry to The Light and the DLI exhibition is free.

Tickets for Victory Over the Sun are priced at £10 for adults and £2.50 for under-18s.

A season pass is available for £25.

On the opening weekend, parking at The Light will be reserved for Blue Badge holders.

Free parking for other visitors will be available at the County Hall car park, with signposted pedestrian access to the venue.