The Lightbox, a prominent art gallery in Surrey, has successfully secured a three-year funding extension from Woking Borough Council, ensuring its survival through 2027 and allowing it to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The cultural institution, which houses both the Woking Museum and an arts and crafts center, had faced the possibility of permanent closure due to the council's financial constraints.

Gallery Director Sarah Brown expressed relief and optimism about the funding agreement, despite the reduced financial support. "The future is bright," Brown stated. "People recognize the value and what we bring to Woking, the economy and culture." She emphasized that the deal would help maintain what she described as the borough's "valuable asset" and keep it operational for the community.

The funding arrangement represents a significant reduction from previous years, with the gallery's budget decreasing substantially over the three-year period. The Lightbox received £425,000 in the 2022/23 fiscal year, but this amount will drop dramatically to £150,000 in 2025/26. The funding will then continue to decrease by £25,000 each subsequent year. This year's allocation of £130,000 was supported through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor Ellen Nicholson, who serves as deputy leader of the council, praised the gallery's contribution to the local community. "They really are a valuable resource to have within Woking and they do such good work within our local community," Nicholson said, highlighting the institution's importance to the area's cultural landscape.

The funding decision came after the council had seriously considered eliminating all support for the gallery. However, papers presented to the council's September executive committee revealed that cutting all funding would have made the gallery financially unviable and forced its closure. This review was part of a broader examination of discretionary contracts following Woking Borough Council's bankruptcy declaration in June 2023.

The new funding agreement was officially approved by the Woking Borough Council's executive committee after they signed off on changes to the original 2003 service agreement. This contract revision was among many discretionary agreements that came under review following the local authority's financial crisis and subsequent bankruptcy filing. The deal ensures that The Lightbox will continue serving the community until at least 2027, maintaining its role as a cultural hub in the borough despite the challenging financial circumstances.