What’s On Events Calendar

Visit the Student Art Prize 2023/24 exhibition and explore this years theme of Paradise.

• Creative
• Everyone

Drawing on the objects and photographs of the main donors to the Korean collection at the Oriental Museum, Knitted Together details Richard and Joan Rutt’s 20 years living in South Korea in the immediate aftermath of the Korean War (1950 – 1953).

• Creative
• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Public
• Family friendly
• Everyone

The Feathers and the Feminine installation was created by members of Interface Arts in memory of their friend Carolyn Corfield, who passed away last year. A creative and dynamic member of the Durham based group, Carolyn primarily produced sculptural ceramics, some of which are on display as part of the installation.

• Exhibition
• Everyone

Join us for an up-close viewing of the Art Collection inspired by this years Student Art Prize theme of light.

• Creative
• Everyone

Take your gel printing skills to the next level in this exciting 2-hour workshop with our local Artist in Residency, Sarah Calavera!

• Creative
• Everyone

Over the past 2 years, work has been undertaken by Durham's curatorial staff to begin to reawaken the university's Bioscience Collection. In this talk, recent graduate intern Anna will explore the processes of reviving the Bioscience Collection through careful curation, conservation, and archival research.

• Lecture
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Talks, training, seminars & conferences
• Everyone

Chat to members of Durham University Islamic Society and try making your own Islamic-inspired geometric artwork.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join us for an evening talk by South Korean artist Seeun Kim on traditional Korean jewellery.

• Exhibition
• Outreach & community
• Partnerships & Collaboration
• Public
• Talks, training, seminars & conferences
• Everyone

Join the Saturday Archaeological Illustration Club to develop your skills in archaeological illustration. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned illustrator, these sessions offer a chance to refine your technique, interact with real artefacts, and engage with the archaeology community in a relaxed, informal environment.

• Creative
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Talks, training, seminars & conferences
• Family friendly
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Local and family historians
• Students in HE

Check out the intricate patterns on the baskets on display and weave your own woollen flower.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join Student Art Prize Artist in Residency, Sarah Calavera for a talk about her practice and residency.

• Creative
• Everyone

Get ready for the Lunar New Year Lantern Festival and make tissue paper lantern to decorate the museum.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Everyone is welcome at this spectacular Lunar New Year Lantern Festival.

• Festival
• Performance
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone
• School students

Explore our new exhibition about man who loved cats and make a super cute cat puppet.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Ever wondered about the huge door at the Oriental Museum? Make your own mysterious 3D doorway...

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Try out our new audio guide and find out about an ancient Egyptian man called Paser. Then create your own Paser clay statue.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Explore the museum after hours in this alternative museum scavenger hunt with the Art Collection.

• Creative
• Everyone

Join Curator of the Korean Collections, Lauren Barnes to learn more about our current temporary exhibition, 'Knitted Together: the Korean lives and legacies of Richard and Joan Rutt'. In this talk, Lauren will share stories of two of the main donors to the Oriental Museum's Korean collection, Richard and Joan Rutt, and give an insight into their fascinating collection and its journey from Daejeon in South Korea, to the Oriental Museum in Durham.

• Lecture
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Talks, training, seminars & conferences
• Everyone

Be prepared to get messy and make your own monoprint artwork.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden for the day.

• Family friendly

See a traditional set of Japanese Hina Matsuri dolls - only displayed for a short time each year in the run up the Hina Matsuri - and create your own Emperor or Empress doll to take home.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Come along to the Botanic Garden to share the Day of Reflection with us.

• Family friendly

Find out about Chinese oracle bones and write a secret message using ancient symbols.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Welcome the spring season to Durham with Holi Festival!

• Festival
• Everyone

Learn about the Ancient Persians, spot a 2500 year old silver bowl and try simple foil embossing.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

This illustrated talk will explore the diverse range of coins that circulated in Britain and Europe between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Italian Renaissance.

• Lecture
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Talks, training, seminars & conferences
• Everyone

Find out about Ancient Egyptian mummification and make your own canopic jar.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join us for a special viewing of the Art Collection. See a selection of works by contemporary artists working in the North East.

• Creative
• Everyone

This year, our iconic book takes centre stage at Palace Green Library.

• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Holiday activities
• Public
• Everyone

Get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden for the day.

• Family friendly

The Durham MG & Classic Car Club was formed in 2001 for local car enthusiasts interested in MG cars, both classic and modern. This informal gathering will showcase cars representing models produced from the late 1940s through to the early 2000s.

• Family friendly

Get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden for the day.

• Family friendly

Get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden for the day.

• Family friendly