In April 2023 The Lightbox was awarded Arts Council England, National Portfolio Organisation status along with a significant funding stream lasting until 2026. With this new funding in place The Lightbox celebrates its 15th Anniversary and an exciting moment of strategic innovation allowing it to set the tone for its next stage of growth.
The charity believes in the transformative power of the visual arts and is rooted in the cultural, social and economic life of Woking, Surrey and the South East. The project to build The Lightbox began in 1993, when a group of local volunteers decided to try and establish a cultural centre in the Woking area. The building was designed by Marks Barfield Architects, who also designed the London Eye, opening in September 2007 and winning a RIBA award for innovative design in 2008.
The Lightbox was pioneering in connecting arts and wellbeing and strives to ensure that this philosophy is at the heart of everything it does. It runs a diverse cultural programme which includes exhibitions featuring world-renowned artists, local heritage, talks and tours, social events, and arts and crafts workshops for all ages. It also hosts special fundraising events to raise money for its charitable ventures such as its Art and Wellbeing initiative, which provides opportunities for those who would otherwise not be able to access arts and heritage services to take part in creative workshops, including free drop-in sessions for families.
In 2008, The Lightbox won the Art Fund Prize Museum of the Year award, and in 2016, it was awarded a Green Tourism silver award. The museum is supported by Woking Borough Council, and also receives support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Arts Council. The Chair will join at an exciting moment to drive new funding streams for the charity as it embarks on the next stage of its journey.