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

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

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

• Accessible
• Creative
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Outreach & community
• Public
• 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 Associate Professor Emily Rohrbach of Durham University as she explores Romantic poet John Keats's creative encounter with his predecessor Shakespeare, focusing on the young poet’s engagement with Shakespeare through his facsimile copy of the 1623 folio. In that book, Keats inscribed an original poem in the space left by the printer between the end of Hamlet and the beginning of King Lear.

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

Jointly organised by the Palace Museum and the Oriental Museum

• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Public
• Family friendly
• Global
• Everyone

Spot the first signs of autumn and make some autumn leaf art.

• 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

Join us for a creative workshop with artist Dinah Kelly. Create your own unique amulet full of personal meaning.

• Creative
• Public
• Workshop
• Alumni
• Everyone
• Friends of the Oriental Museum
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups

Join us for a creative workshop with artist Dinah Kelly. Create your own unique amulet full of personal meaning.

• Creative
• Public
• Workshop
• Students in HE

Find out about the ancient Egyptian obelisk on display and create your own 3D model to take home.

• 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 ancient Chinese game of Go - learn to play from members of the Durham Go Club, and get a free Go board. Watch some games from the 2025 European Student Go Championship, taking place next door. All ages welcome.

• 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

Check our of full suit of fearsome Japanese samurai armour and make your own personal samurai-style paper helmet.

• 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

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

• Family friendly