More people than ever took part in creative activity over the last year according to new figures released by Lighthouse.
The venue, one of the UK’s largest regional arts centres, recorded 11,842 creative engagements with people over 20 years old, adding to the 11,552 engagements with young people. In more than 25,000 engagements with the local community in its programme of creative activity, it offered 1,100 participatory sessions across the year.
With creative activity proven to boost health and well-being, Lighthouse has worked with its partners to offer a range of different creative activities, including courses for Young Technicians and Young Writers, supporting 128 artists to develop new work in its Sanctuary summer residency and hosting mass participation events such as The Big Sing with its resident Bournemouth Symphony Chorus.
“Our spaces are used by all sections of our community and despite the persistent pressure of rising costs we are committed to sustaining and expanding our community engagement work,” says Lighthouse Chief Executive Elspeth McBain.
“We are continuing to develop this aspect of our work with a wide range of partners from individual artists and companies to the various creative, social and support groups who meet at Lighthouse.”
Lighthouse also recorded a surge in cinema attendances as audiences grew by 41% last year, bucking a national trend that saw UK audiences fall slightly last year as the industry slowly recovers to pre-pandemic levels.
In the year to March 2026, some 32,964 tickets were sold, up from 23,266 in 2024/25 and almost doubling the 16,901 sold in 2023/24.
“We’re delighted that audiences have been visiting our Cinema in record numbers,” adds Elspeth.
“Lighthouse is proud to be Poole’s only independent cinema and we have made our programme even more distinctive – with a new Family Films season funded by Film Hub South West, the screening of newly restored cult classics, and hand-picked choices from the Lighthouse team in our Staff Pics season.
“We also pride ourselves on a personal and warm welcome from our team and we have recently renovated our Cinema bar, making it a great place to meet with friends before the film.”
The figures are contained in Lighthouse’s Annual Impact Report for 2025/26 released today and available as printed copies from the Ticket Office at Lighthouse, or online here: https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/who-we-are/impact-report.
(NC)
photo: The Dot Collective – credit Jayne Jackson Photography