Not every interesting event needs an admission ticket. Sometimes a few unexpected discoveries in an art gallery can be just as worthwhile as a big day out.
The Past is Present Poole is a free exhibition at Lighthouse, exploring how history, identity and cultural heritage continue to shape the world around us. It runs until Saturday 31 October 2026, making this weekend the final opportunity to visit.
What Is The Past is Present Poole Exhibition About?
Curated by Swanage-based artist Sharon James, in collaboration with Development Education in Dorset (DEED), the exhibition brings together visual art, textiles, film and writing.
Visitors can discover works from James’s evolving Blackground series alongside nine new pieces, a film essay and a collection of 50 images with their accompanying stories.
African textiles and symbolic patterns are part of the exhibition’s exploration of memory, heritage and lived experience. Rather than treating history as something firmly left behind, the artworks consider the ways in which it remains present in our identities and communities.
The exhibition is part of Lighthouse’s Black History Month programme. Another display, 1944 We Were Here: African American GIs in Dorset, can also be found in the venue’s Mezzanine Gallery.
Free Entry, Dates and Opening Hours
- Dates: Tuesday 6 October–Saturday 31 October 2026
- Opening hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–8pm
- Admission: Free
- Venue: Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, BH15 1UG
- Last day: Saturday 31 October
There is no general exhibition admission charge, making this a particularly convenient indoor stop if the weather turns wet.
For further information, see The Past is Present official exhibition listing.
Getting to Lighthouse Poole and Parking
Lighthouse is opposite Poole Bus Station and approximately ten minutes’ walk from Poole railway station.
For drivers, the Dolphin Shopping Centre multi-storey car park is one nearby option, with additional town-centre parking around Poole. Charges and opening hours vary.
The exhibition is easy to combine with a stroll through Poole’s shopping streets or historic waterfront.
Discover more local activities on One More Stop’s Events & What’s On page. Our free weekend guide for 30 October–1 November also includes this exhibition alongside other inexpensive days out.
One journey. One story. One more stop.