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.
Museum of Archaeology Gallery
01 January 2022 - 01 December 2023
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Museum of Archaeology, Historic Libraries
Enjoy our new special exhibition exploring the rich prehistoric and Roman archaeology of Durham.
- Exhibitions
- Everyone
'There was light': Amunhotep III and his Dazzling Age
01 October 2022 - 21 May 2023
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Oriental Museum
The ancient Egyptian king Amunhotep III was the grandfather of the famous boy king Tutankhamun.
- Exhibitions
- Everyone
Guardians of the Silk Road's Heritage: Women of the mountains of Central Asia
01 October 2022 - 21 May 2023
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Oriental Museum
This exhibition showcases the work of the professional artists and craftswomen who do so much to preserve and transfer traditional knowledge and skills, adapting them for new audiences and popularising Central Asian folk art. Alongside photographs of the women practicing a variety of traditional craft techniques will be examples of their textile work.
- Exhibitions
- Everyone
Photographing Tutankhamun
09 December 2022 - 17 July 2023
12:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Outdoor Art Gallery
This exhibition explores how photography turned Tutankhamun into a global sensation. It shows the most famous photographic images in archaeology, from the most famous of archaeological finds: the tomb of Tutankhamun. Marking the 100th anniversary of the tomb’s discovery in November 1922, this exhibition created by Durham University academic, Prof Christina Riggs, examines the striking images created by photographer Harry Burton during the decade-long excavation.
- Exhibitions
- Everyone
Contemporary Wood-carved Netsuke
20 January 2023 - 14 May 2023
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Oriental Museum
An international touring exhibition from the Japan Foundation.
- Public
- Everyone
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
Artist Talk: Sarah Danays Killing Women - An Absence of Sanctuary
02 May 2023 - 02 May 2023
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
As part of the Student Art Prize 2022/23, inspired by the concept of ‘Sanctuary’, internationally exhibited sculptor and photographer Sarah Danays will discuss her own work which, for several decades, has addressed women’s issues; particularly violence against women.
- Creative
- Discussion
- Public
- Workshop
- Everyone
Little Dragons
03 May 2023 - 03 May 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
03 May 2023 - 03 May 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
Fragments from History exhibition tour
04 May 2023 - 04 May 2023
3:15 AM - 4:15 PM
Durham Castle
Learn more about the current exhibition hosted inside Durham Castle and have more time to enjoy it at the end of a standard tour.
- Exhibition
- Public
- Tour
- Everyone
Twilight Opening at Oriental Museum
04 May 2023 - 04 May 2023
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Oriental Museum is open until 7pm the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month.
- Exhibitions
- Lates
- Public
- Everyone
Japanese Children's Day
06 May 2023 - 06 May 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Celebrate Japanese Children's Day.
- Creative
- Holiday activities
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Everyone
- Lifelong Learners and Community groups
Café Promotion and last chance to see our temporary exhibitions
09 May 2023 - 14 May 2023
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Visit the museum for your last chance to see the temporary exhibitions and also enjoy a discount within the café between 9-14 May
- Accessible
- Exhibitions
- Public
- Everyone
Little Dragons
10 May 2023 - 10 May 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
10 May 2023 - 10 May 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
Fragments from History exhibition tour
11 May 2023 - 11 May 2023
3:15 AM - 4:15 PM
Durham Castle
Learn more about the current exhibition hosted inside Durham Castle and have more time to enjoy it at the end of a standard tour.
- Exhibition
- Public
- Tour
- Everyone
Twilight Opening at Palace Green Library
11 May 2023 - 11 May 2023
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Palace Green Library is open until 7pm the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month.
- Exhibitions
- Lates
- Public
- Everyone
Making Music
13 May 2023 - 13 May 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
See some musical instruments on display in the galleries and make your own mini music maker to take home.
- Creative
- Holiday activities
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Everyone
- Lifelong Learners and Community groups
Working with Brusho Colours
13 May 2023 - 13 May 2023
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Join us for a creative workshop with artist Suzanne Williams. Learn how to use Brusho, an amazing highly pigmented intense watercolour ink powder, to create some exciting colourful abstract paintings on a range of papers.
- Outreach & community
- Workshop
- Everyone
Little Dragons
17 May 2023 - 17 May 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
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.