What’s On Events Calendar
Building closure - upcoming dates
Due to extensive roofing works at Palace Green Library, there will be times when we have to close the building to visitors between summer 2024 and spring 2025, with no access to Museum of Archaeology, Cosin’s Library, Penned and Printed exhibition and World Heritage Site Visitor Centre.
Visit our Tickets and Times pages at each venue for more information.
Student Art Prize Exhibition 2022/23
01 May 2023 - 18 March 2024
10:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Palatine Centre
This exhibition showcases the shortlisted entries to Durham University’s fourth annual Student Art Prize.
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Public
- Student experience
- Alumni
- Everyone
- Students in HE
Penned and Printed
27 May 2023 - 31 March 2025
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Historic Libraries
An exhibition of our Archives and Special Collections, telling hidden stories from the shelves and strongrooms. (Please note, access to this exhibition will be affected by the upcoming Palace Green Library closure dates.)
- Exhibition
- Everyone
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki
07 June 2023 - 10 September 2023
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Oriental Museum
This moving exhibition, produced in collaboration with the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, highlights the devastation wreaked by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
- Exhibitions
- Everyone
Throwing it Out There: the Archaeology of Ritual, Rivers and Rubbish
16 June 2023 - 12 November 2023
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Museum of Archaeology
Have you ever thrown a coin in a wishing well? You might not know it, but that is a kind of ritual! This exhibition will explore the rich ritual history of the rivers of County Durham, showcasing local objects from the Bronze Age to the medieval period and beyond.
- Exhibition
- Everyone
Framing Shakespeare
26 July 2023 - 11 September 2023
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Historic Libraries
As a Part of the Summer in the City Art Festival and the Durham Fringe Festival, come along to Cosin’s Library to view 18th century prints inspired by the works of Shakespeare.
- Exhibition
- Everyone
Durham Castle Self-Guided Day
15 August 2023 - 15 August 2023
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Durham Castle
Join us on a self-guided day and experience history and tales from 1000 years of living history.
- Public
- Everyone
Beautiful Durham
16 August 2023 - 31 May 2024
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Outdoor Art Gallery, Art Collection
As a Part of the Summer in the City Art Festival and in collaboration with nine County Durham Schools, come see a collection of artworks that answer the question “What makes Durham Beautiful?”
- Accessible
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Everyone
Little Dragons
16 August 2023 - 16 August 2023
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Oriental Museum
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
Little Dragons
16 August 2023 - 16 August 2023
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Oriental Museum
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
Durham Castle Self-Guided Day
16 August 2023 - 16 August 2023
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Durham Castle
Join us on a self-guided day and experience history and tales from 1000 years of living history.
- Public
- Everyone
Drawing Workshop
16 August 2023 - 16 August 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Have fun and experiment with our exciting drawing challenges.
- Creative
- Everyone
Autism-Friendly Crafts Activities
17 August 2023 - 17 August 2023
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Join us for some fun, FREE autism-friendly crafts for families at the Oriental Museum.
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Outreach & community
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Twilight Opening at Oriental Museum
17 August 2023 - 17 August 2023
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Oriental Museum is open until 7pm the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month. We have an additional evening opening 31st August.
- Exhibitions
- Lates
- Public
- Everyone
Super Scarabs
18 August 2023 - 18 August 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Spot the Ancient Egyptian scarab beetles on display and make your own from clay.
- Creative
- Everyone
Exciting Writing
19 August 2023 - 19 August 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Find out about cuneiform, one the world's oldest forms of writing and try writing your own inscription.
- Creative
- Everyone
What’s on across our venues
Our unique cultural attractions include Durham Castle, Botanic Garden, Historic Libraries at Palace Green, Oriental Museum, Museum of Archaeology and our World Heritage Site Visitor Centre. Whatever your interest, there's something for everyone to enjoy.