Lightbox secures investment from Museum Estates Development Fund

Congratulations to our CVAN South East network partner, Lightbox, Woking, on securing £319,000 from the Museum Estates Development Fund. This funding forms part of the £270 million Arts Everywhere investment in UK culture which was announced by Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy last week.

Sarah Brown, Director Lightbox Gallery & Museum, said: We are delighted to be awarded ACE MEND funding, which will allow us to carry out vital work on our landmark building that is approaching twenty years old and is now in need of urgent repair.  This funding is a real investment in the creativity and culture of Woking, Surrey, enabling us to continue providing an inspiring and welcoming space for our communities and to make a difference to everyone’s use and enjoyment of the Lightbox Gallery & Museum into the future.

Read the full transcript of Lisa Nandy’s speech launching the Arts Everywhere Fund. 

Paula Orrell, CVAN National Director, has responded to the wider announcement:

A Human-Centred Approach to the Visual Arts

We need a policy shift

Lisa Nandy’s speech reaffirmed what we in the visual arts sector know: culture is essential, not a luxury. She champions arts as a force for opportunity, inclusion, and national renewal, but we must ensure this belief translates into long-term structural change. The investment is welcomed and sustains capital of £85 million through the Creative Foundations Fund, and the Museums sector has had some significant investments. The Secretary of State is genuine in approach and values.

What’s missing?

•  A recognition that investment in cultural infrastructure alone isn’t enough—we need support for artists, curators, educators, and cultural workers who sustain the sector.
•  A Treasury that understands the arts beyond economic growth outputs—they shape identity, education, and social cohesion.
•  A long-term investment strategy that stops the cycle of crisis funding and embeds the arts into industrial strategy, education, and public policy.

The arts are not just buildings or institutions—they are people, relationships, and creativity. If we want to truly sustain the sector, we need a human-centred approach to policy.

How do we make this happen?

We must inform the Treasury, push for long-term investment, and ensure the visual arts are recognised as integral to society. This is the moment to act. The future of our sector depends on it.

Click here for the full press release.