What's On
The Oriental Museum has a busy programme of events for adults and families relating to our collections and temporary exhibitions. See below for What's On. If you would like us to email you when we have special events, please let us know at oriental.museum@durham.ac.uk.
You can find information on special projects such as the A History of the World and Stories of the World by clicking on the links on the left.
Information on the Friends of the Oriental Museum Lecture Series and other Friends events can be found on the Friends page. To find out about events taking place right across Durham University look at the University What's On Guide.
Chinese Brush Painters' Society (Northern)
Painting Peonies in Xieyi (Free) Style and Gongbi (Meticulous) Style
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May 2013, 12 to 4.30pm. Led by Maggie Cross - Member of the National CBPS and The Society of Floral Painters.
Over the two day course Maggie will demonstrate peonies, with a supporting cast of butterflies and birds. Peonies are very symbolic in China, regarded by many as the National flower of China. They represent beauty and riches. On one day Maggie will demonstrate the meticulous or 'gongbi' style, and on the other, the 'xieyi', or freestyle technique.
Maggie learnt Chinese Brush Painting in Hong Kong, where she grew up learning to speak the Cantonese dialect and write characters. She has been teaching and lecturing for many years, and is a member of The Society of Floral Painters and the National Chinese Brush Painters' Society.
This workshop is suitable for beginners, and those with experience (over 15yrs). The cost of the workshop is £25 for a single day or £40 for two days - ALL MATERIALS INCLUDED.
Please note, places are strictly limited to 20, so you must book on if you are interested in attending this workshop. For further information and to make a booking, please contact the CBPS (Northern) as follows:
email: enquiries@cbpsnorthern.co.uk, or telephone 07840 507360 - please leave a message. Website: http://www.cbpsnorthern.co.uk/
Family Activities
Whitsun Holidays
All activities run 1-3pm and are drop-in, unless otherwise stated.
Wednesday 29th May - Ancient Egyptian Accessories
Make Egyptian amulets or a Nekhbet pendant.
Friday 31st May - Chinese Dragon Boat Festival
Find out about the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. Make and decorate your own dragon boat.
June 2013
Saturday 8th June - World Oceans Day
Celebrate 'World Ocean Day'. Take inspiration from the museum galleries and create your own sea creature to take home.
Saturday 15th June - Museum Bugs
Come along and find out about the bugs that sometimes eat the museum's collections and make an egg box bug.
Saturday 22nd June - Great Ganesha
Celebrate the opening of our new Hinduism exhibition by making your own elephant-god and adorn him with sequins.
Saturday 29th June - Dreadful Dragons
Find out about dragons in Chinese culture and make an amazing fire-breathing dragon!
Summer Holidays
Wednesday 24th July - Egyptian Mask
Come and visit the museum's mummies, and make a mummy mask.
Friday 26th July - Japanese Wooden Doll
Make a Japanese wooden doll.
Wednesday 31st July - The Hungry Silk Worm
Find out about the silk trade route, and make your own Hungry Silk Worm story book.
Friday 2nd August - Japanese Zen Garden
Design and make a Japanese Zen Garden.
Wednesday 7th August - The Egyptian Afterlife
Find out what the Ancient Egyptians believed about the afterlife and make canopic jars - complete with organs inside.
Friday 9th August - Buddhist Wheel of Life
Learn about Buddhism, and make a Buddhist Wheel of Life.
Wednesday 14th August - Celebrate Awa Odori
Celebrate the Japanese dancing festival of Awa Odori. Learn about the Fool's Dance and decorate the costumes of ren dancing groups.
Friday 16th August - Chinese Handprint Dragon
Make and decorate a Chinese handprint dragon.
Wednesday 21st August - Islamic Prayer Mat
Find out about Islamic culture and make a prayer mat.
Friday 23rd August - Indian Animal Masks
Learn about the animals of India, and make an elephant or tiger mask or a peacock finger puppet.
Wednesday 28th August - Scarab Beetle
Try writing your name in hieroglyphs and make your own scarab beetle.
Friday 30th August - Japanese Crafts
Discover the importance of symbols in Japanese art, and make a Japanese screen decorated with the symbols you have learnt about.
Advice for parents and caregivers:
- All activities are drop in (any time between 1 and 3 pm) unless otherwise stated.
- All activities are included in the Museum admission price and are generally suitable for children aged 5 to 11.
- Children MUST be accompanied by an adult.
Little Dragon Club
Every Wednesday, from 10-11am, a fun club for children aged 0-5 years. For further information and to book a place, follow this link.
Globetrotting with Callum - a fun children's trail around the Oriental Museum
Join Callum the Camel on a hip-happening adventure around the Oriental Museum. Get the lowdown on mummification, find out which animal you are on the Chinese zodiac or try out ceramic soduku!
We have launched a 16-page full colour booklet designed to help chilldren get the most from their visit to the Oriental Museum. Just ask at the reception desk for your free copy and follow Callum's hoof prints to find your way around the galleries.
This trail has been created and designed by a group of students from Gilesgate VI Form centre as part of the 'Stories of the World' project for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Check out the latest progress of the Stories of the World project at the Oriental Museum here.
