What’s On Events Calendar

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

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

• Creative
• Everyone

A student-led, family-friendly summer exhibition showcasing toys from across Asia and Egypt to celebrate a simple fact of humanity: we all love to play.

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

This exhibition marks the centenary of the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition, the first Western, and ultimately tragic, attempt to climb the highest mountain in the world.

• Creative
• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Partnerships & Collaboration
• Public
• Family friendly
• Everyone

When you think about the history of Durham, what comes to mind? Beautiful architecture, rich and powerful people and the history you find in textbooks. But how often do we stop and think about the lives of ordinary people? This exhibition explores the past of Durham through the ordinary people who lived and worked here.

• Exhibition
• Everyone

Have you ever looked at an ancient castle and wondered how it’s still standing? This exhibition will explore the history of construction and building conservation at Durham Castle, with a particular focus on the Norman Chapel Project, a long-term endeavour to preserve the oldest free-standing building in Durham.

• Exhibition
• Everyone

Living Objects shows a display of poems by DU Poetry Society

• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Children and families
• Everyone
• Friends of the Oriental Museum
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Local and family historians
• School students
• Students in HE
• Teachers / Home Educators
• Young People

STRIKE is a new women-led public art collective in County Durham. Together they use public art to take up space without apology, saying farewell to the many ‘sorrys’ of the women who walked before them.

• Creative
• 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
• Under 5s

Join us for a fun-filled day of exploring bear habitats on an interactive guided walk through the Garden, a messy bear art workshop and all your favourite bear stories.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Festival of Archaeology Embroidery Workshop: Exploring the LGBTQIA+ histories in the Ancient Greek Collections

• Creative
• Everyone

Explore Durham University’s Museum of Archaeology Greek and Roman collections with artist Sarah Li in this unique workshop. Delve into LGBTQIA+ histories, engage in Queer storytelling, and create your own piece of embroidery.

• Creative
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Festival
• Holiday activities
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Students in HE

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
• Under 5s

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
• Under 5s

Explore the sights and sounds of the Himalayas and make a cool mountain zine.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

A youth group for 12-18 year olds to learn practical art skills.

• Creative
• School students

Get interactive with our Crazy Creatures who are visiting the Garden for the day.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Explore our new exhibition all about toys and games, then play some fun games like Ancient Egyptian senet, snakes and ladders and more - all while the museum galleries are generally quieter.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Workshop
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Oriental Museum is open until 7pm the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month.

• Accessible
• Exhibitions
• Lates
• Public
• Everyone

Exploring the LGBTQIA+ histories in the Oriental Museum collection.

• Creative
• Everyone