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

Immerse yourself in the history of Durham by taking part into a guided tour around the World Heritage Site.

• Tour
• Everyone

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

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

Immerse yourself in the history of Durham by taking part into a guided tour around the World Heritage Site.

• Tour
• 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

Join us at Durham Castle for a special visit at your own pace this summer.

• Tour
• 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 Durham Castle for a special visit at your own pace this summer.

• Tour
• 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

Hunt for the Tek Sing shipwreck and learn how underwater archaeologists study shipwrecks.

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

Learn how archaeologists study Ancient Egyptian mummies and make an x-ray of your own!

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

Be part of the Festival of Archaeology with a family-friendly event at the Museum of Archaeology. Join Out There Adventures Living History Team as they bring Roman archaeology to life, and meet our curators who will share fascinating insights into our collections.

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

See a beautiful Japanese kimono and try dressing up your own mini doll.

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

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 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

Be a detective and hunt down some objects that might not be exactly what they seem and make one of your own.

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

Learn about prehistoric Japan and make a clay dogu figure.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Holiday activities
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone
• School students

Find out how archaeologists record their discoveries and draw a giant site plan of the museum and its treasures. Perfect for budding archaeologists.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Holiday activities
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone
• School students

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

Join us for family activities inspired by our exhibition, Shakespeare Recovered. Drop in, all welcome, aged 5-12

• Creative
• Children and families

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 some objects made from glass in the museum and make your own glass tile mosaic.

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

Learn about a special golden chest on display, then create your own glittering, golden artwork.

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

Learn about the stories and characters of the famous Indian epic poem, the Ramayana and help make a giant storyboard of your own.

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

Join us for family activities inspired by our exhibition, Shakespeare Recovered. Drop in, all welcome, aged 5-12

• Creative
• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Holiday activities
• Family friendly
• Children and families

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 smells and spices of the Silk Road and make spice map and spice bag to take home.

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

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

• Family friendly

The Oriental Museum is full of sculptures. Find you favourite then make a colourful skewer sculpture to take home.

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

Learn about the Ancient Egyptian gods Sekmet and Bastet and make a colourful lion spinner.

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

Join us for family activities inspired by our exhibition, Shakespeare Recovered. Drop in, all welcome, aged 5-12

• Creative
• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Holiday activities
• Family friendly
• Children and families

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

Take inspiration from the heavenly Korean jewellery on display made artist Seeun Kim and make your own brooch.

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

Join us for a free Twilight Talk focussing on our latest temporary exhibition, Telling Tales - Making Stories Come to Life.

• Exhibition
• Lates
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Talks, training, seminars & conferences
• Alumni
• Everyone
• Friends of the Oriental Museum
• Young People

Uncover the mysteries of the Indus Valley civilisation, try decorating in geometric patterns and try our online Indus exhibition.

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

Check out our new Telling Tales exhibition and make your own theatre-style mask.

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

Join us for family activities inspired by our exhibition, Shakespeare Recovered. Drop in, all welcome, aged 5-12

• Creative
• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Holiday activities
• Family friendly
• Children and families

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

Explore our community exhibition and a special Chinese plate, then make your own plate of positivity decorate with things that inspire you.

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

Learn about the Japanese tea ceremony, get hands on with Japanese objects and decorate your own tea bowl.

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

Spot the crystal bird perching in the Silk Roads Gallery and make your own birdy mobile.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Holiday activities
• 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

Paint your own colourful Indian-style mandala onto fabric.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Holiday activities
• 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 intricately carved wooden face, roots and all, and make your own fantastical face collage.

• 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

Find out about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year festival, and make a shofar musical instrument

• 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 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

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 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 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 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

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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