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 threaten to 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!
July 2013
Saturday 6th July - Walk like a Pharaoh - Make your own ancient Egyptian Pharaoh mask.
Saturday 13th July - Perfect paper - join us for an afternoon of paper marbling and paper crafts.
Festival of British Archaeology
Richard III
Saturday 20th July 2013 (1-4pm)
A fun-packed afternoon of activities and crafts based on the life and times of Richard III. Analyze human remains, find out about 15th century warfare and weaponry.
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Places are limited so booking is essential.
Please contact the museum on 0191 3345694 to book your place.
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.
Saturday 27th July - Magnificent mosaics - get creative and make a beautiful mosaic from glass tiles.
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.
Saturday 3rd August - Amazing animals - some of the most amazing animals in the world are found in Asia. Make your own 3D model of a tiger, panda or elephant.
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.
Saturday 10th August - Super soap carving - take inspiration from the Oriental Museum's collections and create your own sculpture ... from soap.
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.
Saturday 17th August - Magical masks - find out about the Chinese operatic tradition, make your own opera mask, all whilst listening to an authentic Chinese opera.
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.
Saturday 24th August - Mystical money tree - find out about this mythical Chinese tree and make your own golden coin tree for good fortune.
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.
Saturday 31st August - Lovely leather - humans have been working leather for thousands of years. Have a go at making your own wrist guard or purse.
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.
