Industry News

The Light has officially opened its doors in Durham City, welcoming visitors to a spectacular weekend of culture, creativity and community.

The new Durham County Council venue at Aykley Heads opened on Saturday 22 August, with a packed programme of live performances, creative activities, family fun and exhibitions bringing the building to life.

The opening weekend gave visitors the first opportunity to explore The Light’s two inaugural exhibitions, We Are The Durhams: The Durham Light Infantry Exhibition and Victory Over the Sun: Encounters with Light, while enjoying a programme of entertainment across the venue and its grounds.

From circus performers and brass bands to live music, immersive installations and hands-on creative activities, there was something for visitors of all ages to discover.

Cllr 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 pulled 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 were excited to see how the building has been transformed.

“It has been fantastic to welcome visitors to our inaugural exhibitions and showcase how the building’s past, and its future as a centre for art, innovation and history, have shaped the amazing cultural programme we will deliver.

“The Light represents a significant investment in culture. Not only will it entertain and inspire our communities, it will help to raise aspirations among young people and attract more visitors into the county, boosting our £1.5 billion tourism economy.”

The opening celebrations will continue throughout the remainder of the summer holidays, with a programme of artist-led workshops and creative activities inspired by light, colour, perception and imagination.

The opening of The Light also marked the launch of its two inaugural exhibitions.

Victory Over the Sun: Encounters with Light brings together groundbreaking works by artists who use light in extraordinary ways, including Tracey Emin, Dan Flavin, Olafur Eliasson and Chila Burman.

Running until Sunday 17 January 2027, the exhibition explores light as both subject and material, prompting visitors to consider perception, nature and the cosmos.

Visitors can also discover We Are The Durhams, a new permanent exhibition exploring the history and heritage of the Durham Light Infantry.

Featuring images, sounds, hands-on activities and rich sensory experiences, the exhibition uses the DLI’s military heritage to tell a deeply human story of identity, belonging and community.

Alongside its exhibition spaces, The Light features dedicated areas for talks, workshops and live events, a café with an outdoor terrace overlooking the grounds, and flexible spaces for meetings and private events.

The venue’s autumn and winter programme will be announced next month, with further opportunities to discover, create, connect and be inspired at The Light.