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

Want to sharpen your drawing skills or draw? Join our Arts Social with Durham University's Art Collection for a tutored drawing session.

• Creative
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Students in HE

Tanabata is the Japanese summer star festival. Find out about this special time of year and make tanabata decorations.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join us for a creative workshop led by artist Gail Bell and design your own silk painting.

• Workshop
• Everyone

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
• Children and families

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

• Creative
• School students

Want to sharpen your drawing skills or draw? Join our Arts Social with Durham University's Art Collection for a tutored drawing session.

• Creative
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Students in HE

Handle some archaeological finds from Ancient Egypt and China and try our special archaeology trail.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join us on Sunday, 14th July from 1-4pm at the Museum of Archaeology for a unique opportunity to learn about archaeological illustration. Part of the Festival of Archaeology, this event is free and open to everyone—no experience necessary.

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

Join us for some autism-friendly lego fun for families at the Oriental Museum when the galleries are quieter.

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

Want to sharpen your drawing skills or draw? Join our Arts Social with Durham University's Art Collection for a tutored drawing session.

• Creative
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Students in HE

Did you know that yaks were a vital part of the first attempts to climb Mount Everest? Find out why and make cute yak puppet.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Be part of the Festival of Archaeology and DUScience100 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