The Light shines across Durham

The Light opens on Saturday, August 22 in Durham City and represents a major investment in creativity, culture and community. It will bring together art, history and science in exciting ways, providing a welcoming and engaging space where visitors will experience internationally significant exhibitions, created in partnership with leading national and global institutions.

The Light will be a place for creativity and innovation to thrive, communities to gather, and artists to collaborate.

Cllr Karen Allison and Cllr Joe Quinn, Cabinet member for planning, investments and assets (Image: Durham County Council)

Once home to the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Durham Art Gallery, the attraction will include a permanent DLI gallery to help bring the region’s proud military history to new audiences. Featuring images, sounds, hands-on activities and rich sensory experiences, We Are The Durhams builds upon the venue’s military heritage to tell a deeply human story of identity, belonging and community.

More than just an exhibition space, The Light has also been designed to include facilities for hosting private events and conferences. A ground floor café, meanwhile, will provide a place for visitors and passers-by to stop for refreshments. Set within beautiful natural grounds, The Light also offers outdoor space for visitors to explore, play and enjoy, alongside quieter areas designed for reflection.

Entry to The Light and We Are The Durhams is free.

The Light will be home to a permanent Durham Light Infantry gallery (Image: Durham County Council)

The attraction will open with a spectacular exhibition of international light art. Victory Over the Sun: Encounters with Light will launch the venue’s ambitious cultural programme, featuring ground-breaking works by artists who use light in extraordinary ways — Tracey Emin, Dan Flavin, Olafur Eliasson, and Chila Burman to name just a few.

Inspired by one of the 19th century scientists who first created artificial light, Victory Over the Sun will immerse audiences in a range of sensory effects, increasing their understanding of how we see and experience light, and showcasing the links between light, science and nature. The North East’s own part in this story will also be celebrated, with a replica of the first British lightbulb, invented by the Sunderland-born physicist Joseph Swan, included within the show.

The Light will provide an immersive experience (Image: Durham County Council)

Other featured artists include Maarten Baas, Yto Barrada, Tina Bech, James Clar, Shezad Dawood, Spencer Finch, Ceal Floyer, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Katrin Hanusch, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Jenny Holzer, Hilary Jack, Glenn Ligon, Erin McDougle, Steve McQueen, Tatsuo Miyajima, Ivan Navarro, Katie Paterson, David Shrigley, Liz West and Cerith Wyn Evans.

Victory Over the Sun has been curated by Natasha Howes, senior curator at Haigh Hall, former principal curator at Light Night Leeds and former senior curator at Manchester Art Gallery.

The Light will open seven days a week (Image: Durham County Council)

To celebrate the opening of the new venue, The Light will come alive this summer with an action-packed opening weekend launching a season of activity designed to inspire visitors of all ages to come together and get creative.

The programme will continue for the remainder of the school holidays, with the venue opening seven days a week and offering a mix of indoor and outdoor activities for children and families. Inspired by the theme of “light” — a reference to both the DLI and the extraordinary works featured in Victory Over the Sun — visitors can expect spectacle, hands-on creativity and inspiring ideas. Further details of the opening programme will be announced later this month.

The Light artistic director Tony Guillan (Image: Durham County Council)

Cllr Karen Allison, the council’s Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said: “We are incredibly excited to welcome people to our new cultural venue The Light this month.

“By remodelling and extending the existing 1960s building, we have created a modern and spacious venue capable of hosting world-class contemporary exhibitions. A dedicated DLI gallery, meanwhile, will bring stories from the Regiment to life in ways that have never been possible before.

“The building has always been both a museum and an art gallery and this tradition will continue at The Light. Through exhibitions such as Victory Over the Sun, we will celebrate County Durham’s heritage and innovative spirit through spectacular works of art, while providing opportunities for artists to collaborate and for our residents to enjoy a fun and inspiring day out.

The spacious venue is capable of hosting world-class contemporary exhibitions (Image: Durham County Council)

“The Light is also simply a wonderful and relaxing place to spend time, whether that be viewing the amazing artworks, meeting friends for lunch in the café or enjoying a stroll around the grounds. I would encourage everyone to come along and experience what’s on offer.”

The Light’s location, at the heart of Aykley Heads, will also make the venue an anchor institution of Durham’s innovation district.

Acting as a meeting place and a creative hub, it will support the game-changing ambitions of the new district and play a key part in the sustainable growth of the site.

The Light will support County Durham’s economy (Image: Durham County Council)

Cllr Allison added: “In County Durham we have a long-standing commitment to culture-based regeneration.

“We recognise the transformational impact it has on our communities and our economy, and this is reflected in the prominent role The Light will play in Durham’s innovation district.

“Culture and tourism are major contributors to County Durham’s economy, bringing in more than £1 billion a year. The Light will support this by drawing in more visitors and making us a more attractive place to live, work and invest.”

The Light is a place for creativity and innovation to thrive (Image: Durham County Council)

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During August, The Light will be open every day, from 10am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; from 10am to 8pm on Thursday; and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday. The café will be open from 10am to 4pm.

From September, the venue will be closed on Monday and Tuesdays, with other opening hours remaining the same.

The Light brings together art, history and science (Image: Durham County Council)

Victory Over The Sun will run until Sunday, January 17, 2027. Tickets are now available to book online at thelightdurham.org.uk priced at £10 for adults and £2.50 for children under 18 for a two-hour timed entry slot.

An exhibition season pass is available priced at £25. Tickets will also be available to buy on the door when the venue opens priced at £12.50 for adults and £2.50 for children.

To find out more, visit The Light and follow @thelightdurham on Facebook and Instagram.