From left: Ben Kelsey, senior projects and performance manager at Durham County Council; Cllr Karen Allison, the council’s Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street; Cllr Joe Quinn, Cabinet member for planning, investments and assets; and Ian Lamming, senior pre-construction manager at Willmott Dixon, pictured inside The Light.
Work to create a new cultural venue and tourist attraction in Durham City has reached an important milestone, with the main construction phase now complete.
Set to open this summer, The Light 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. A Durham County Council venue, it will be a place for creativity and innovation to thrive, communities to gather, and artists to collaborate.
This week, the building, which was once home to the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Durham Art Gallery, was handed back to the council, following its transformation into a multipurpose cultural space.
Over the last two years, construction firm Willmott Dixon has undertaken significant works to the original building, which has been stripped down to its basic structure and almost completely rebuilt. As a result, the venue is now capable of staging world class exhibitions.
Its links to military history, meanwhile, will be retained through a dedicated DLI gallery telling the story of the ‘Durhams’ through objects, documents and film footage from the DLI Collection.
Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said: “It’s been fantastic to witness the transformation of this building into a venue that will not only provide enriching experiences for our residents, but will attract tens of thousands of visitors each year, strengthening the county’s tourism offer and boosting our economy.
“With construction now complete, we can begin to kit out the building’s interior. This will include establishing a permanent DLI gallery to help bring our region’s proud military history to new audiences.
“We will also be installing our first temporary exhibition, which will be the first of many showcasing world class creativity from the North East, the UK, and across the globe. Light art will play a prominent role, inspired by County Durham’s deep-rooted connection to light – from the creation of Bede’s lunar calendar 1,300 years ago and Joseph Swan’s pioneering lightbulb, to Durham University’s involvement in the James Webb Space Telescope. We are excited that we will be able to share more details about this landmark exhibition soon.”
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.
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.
And, as a sister venue to The Story, which provides the permanent home to the DLI Collection, it will work alongside attractions across the county to support a visitor offer that celebrates County Durham’s heritage and highlights its ambition.
The Light will employ around 18 members of staff, along with opportunities throughout the year for placements, residence schemes, volunteering and fixed term paid employment.
To find out about career opportunities at The Light, visit www.durham.gov.uk/workingatthelight
