Ahead of its opening on Saturday, August 22, with a bumper weekend of activities, we went for a look around The Light.
The new Durham County Council-run building is a remodel of the 1960s former DLI Gallery and Durham Art Museum in Aykley Heads and is a big boost to the site’s offering with contemporary gallery space, as well as a new cafe, meeting rooms, hands on workshops and more.
“It’s a really exciting moment for the venue and for the city,” said Tony Guillan, creative director of The Light, as they prepare to welcome the public through the doors of the new venue, which has been years in the planning.
He added: “I’m genuinely thrilled to be part of a team delivering what I believe is one of the most ambitious cultural projects currently taking place in the North East.
“More importantly, I believe it has the potential to be transformative for County Durham and the wider region.”
The Light is named in honour of the county’s long association with light in all its forms and features free displays, including a permanent exhibition in tribute to the Durham Light Infantry called We Are The Durhams, and a new contemporary gallery space.
The latter is ticketed with the inaugural exhibition, Victory Over The Sun: Encounters With Light, featuring the work of 25 contemporary artists working with light, with pieces by the likes of national and international artists, Olafur Eliasson, Tracey Emin, Chila Burman, David Shrigley and more.
Speaking about what ticketholders can expect from Victory Over The Sun, Tony said: “We’ve got light artworks of all different sorts and scales, from really intimate works looking at how artists have written in light to large scale works. It’s a really spectacular and unique show and the first time an exhibition like this has been held in County Durham.”
*Entry to The Light and We Are The Durhams is free. Victory Over The Sun is ticketed, with tickets available at https://thelightdurham.org.uk/
5. Let there be light
Victory Over the Sun will run until Sunday 17 January 2027. Tickets are now available to book online at www.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. | Iconic Media
6. One of Sunderland's most famous sons
The Victory Over the Sun exhibition features a replica of the first British lightbulb, invented by Sunderland-born physicist Joseph Swan. | Iconic Media
7. Cafe and community offering
In addition to the cultural offer, The Light has dedicated areas for educational and community activities, a café with an outdoor terrace overlooking the grounds and flexible spaces for meetings and events. | Iconic Media
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8. The Durhams
The Durham Light Infantry, known as "The Durhams", was an infantry regiment of the British Army, originally formed as the 68th Regiment of Foot in County Durham in 1758. Over more than two centuries, its soldiers served across the world, building a strong identity rooted in loyalty, courage and community - an identity that continues today through its successor regiment, The Rifles. | Iconic Media