What’s On Events Calendar

An exhibition of the entrants to our international bookbinding competition.

• Creative
• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Holiday activities
• Public
• Everyone

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

• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Holiday activities
• Public
• Everyone

A vibrant exhibition celebrating the creativity and voices of community groups who regularly collaborate with the Oriental Museum.

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

Experience the joy and wonder of storytelling through the Oriental Museum’s new summer exhibition, Telling Tales Making Stories Come to Life.

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

Contemporary artist Dinah Kelly shines a light on the protective powers and symbolism of charms, talismans and amulets.

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

Beasts and Legends: Adventures Through North East Folklore is a free exhibition which explores the development of storytelling throughout Historic County Durham.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Holiday activities
• Public
• Children and families
• Everyone

Check out our amazing new exhibition Telling Tales and make a storyboard of your favourite story.

• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.

• Creative
• Public
• Family friendly
• Under 5s

Join the Beasts and Legends student exhibition team at Palace Green Library as they share their experiences of curating the exhibition. Discover artefacts from Durham University’s collections, objects on loan from Durham Cathedral, and collaborative artworks by local artist Ruth Flowers.

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

Experience a FREE South Korean drumming performance presented by students from the Durham University P'ungmul Society and try writing a secret code in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. After the performance, you will have the opportunity to try out the instruments yourself! Please note: The drumming performance will be loud and last 15 minutes. Sensory bags are available on request. The craft activities will be taking place in a quieter area.

• Public
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.

• Creative
• Public
• Family friendly
• Under 5s

Spot the boats in the museum and make 3D sea sculpture.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.

• Creative
• Public
• Family friendly
• Under 5s

Discover the latest scientific research we've been doing on a very special statue of Guanyin and use your imagination to recreate how it might have looked like 500 years ago.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Experiment with shape and colour and create a unique print on fabric.

• Workshop
• Everyone

Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.

• Creative
• Public
• Family friendly
• Under 5s

Step behind the scenes of museum care and archaeological science at this hands-on open day exploring the fascinating world of conservation, led by conservation students from the Department of Archaeology.  

• Holiday activities
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Make a beautiful fan to help you stay cool over the summer!

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Step behind the scenes of museum care and archaeological science at this hands-on open day exploring the fascinating world of conservation, led by conservation students from the Department of Archaeology.  

• Holiday activities
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.

• Creative
• Public
• Family friendly
• Under 5s