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.
The long aftermath: how Hiroshima and Nagasaki shaped and were shaped by postwar history
19 July 2023 - 19 July 2023
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Oriental Museum
The two nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki unquestionably altered the course of the twentieth century. Yet their impact was not predetermined in August of 1945 but unfolded in historically-contingent ways over several decades.
- Partnerships & Collaboration
- Public
- Talks, training, seminars & conferences
- Everyone
Spatial Objects at Durham Castle, Tour Led by Artist Dan Holdsworth
20 July 2023 - 20 July 2023
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Durham Castle
As a part of the Summer in the City Arts Festival and in celebration of his new temporary exhibition 'Spatial Objects', join artist Dan Holdsworth on a tour of this exhibition at Durham Castle.
- Tour
- Everyone
- Students in HE
- Young People
Ancient Egyptian Super Sobek
22 July 2023 - 22 July 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
See our newest Ancient Egyptian object on display - a huge plaster cast of a temple wall and make an Ancient Egyptian collage featuring the crocodile-headed god, Sobek.
- Creative
- Outreach & community
- Everyone
Monster Modelling with Artist Paul Raymond
25 July 2023 - 25 July 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Part of Summer in the City Art Festival 2023, learn how to sculpt monsters and grotesque creatures in this workshop with artist Paul Raymond.
- Creative
- Outreach & community
- Workshop
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- 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
Tea Time
26 July 2023 - 26 July 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Find out about tea in China and decorate a paper tea bowl.
- Outreach & community
- Everyone
Twilight Talk: Durham Archaeology Explorers
27 July 2023 - 27 July 2023
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Museum of Archaeology, Historic Libraries, Durham World Heritage Site Visitor Centre
Charlotte Spink, Learning Coordinator with the Learning and Engagement Team will be joined by members of Durham Archaeology Explorers (archaeology club for children aged 7 - 11 years) to talk about the group’s recent activities and why community archaeology groups are so important for inspiring the archaeologists and historians of the future.
- Exhibition
- Lecture
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Family friendly
- Everyone
Festival of Archaeology Special Event
28 July 2023 - 28 July 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Pop along to our handling station and get hands on with some museum objects unearthed by archaeologists with the help of our Learning Team. Why not bring in your own finds to show us too.
- Outreach & community
- Everyone
Tiger-Tastic
29 July 2023 - 29 July 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Celebrate International Tiger Day: Spot the tiny tiger in the museum and make a tiger-tastic collage.
- Outreach & community
- Everyone
Chigiri-e Art Workshop
29 July 2023 - 29 July 2023
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Join us for a creative workshop with artist Noriko Matsubara and try chigiri-e, the traditional Japanese art of hand torn paper collaging. Noriko will take participants through the step-by-step process of designing and creating their own unique chigiri-e torn paper collage.
- Creative
- Workshop
- Everyone
A-Bomb Survivor Testimony
01 August 2023 - 01 August 2023
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Oriental Museum
A special live online event with testimony from a survivor of the bombing of Hiroshima.
- Partnerships & Collaboration
- Public
- Talks, training, seminars & conferences
- Everyone
Durham Castle Self-Guided Day
01 August 2023 - 01 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
- Children and families
- Everyone
Little Dragons
02 August 2023 - 02 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
02 August 2023 - 02 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
02 August 2023 - 02 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
- Children and families
- Everyone
Paper Cranes Workshop
02 August 2023 - 02 August 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Japanese origami cranes are a symbol of hope. Drop in and learn how to make a paper crane. See how many you can make.
- Outreach & community
- Everyone
Pom-pom Power
04 August 2023 - 04 August 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
See our super cute rabbit toy Molang on display and make your own pom-pom character.
- Creative
- Outreach & community
- Everyone
Lucky Cats
05 August 2023 - 05 August 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Find out about Japanese lucky cats and make your own to take home.
- Outreach & community
- Everyone
Durham Castle Self-Guided Day
08 August 2023 - 08 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
Little Dragons
09 August 2023 - 09 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
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.