Key Stage 4
Art Workshops
Durham University is home to an incredible art collection spanning many different cultures, countries and movements. Your students will not only experience the art and learn more about the artists but will also have a chance to go behind the scenes. Here, they can see how our collections are stored and catalogued and meet the art professionals who care for them.
If you’re interested in our art sessions, why not check out our Arts Award?
Art Careers
Learn what it's like to work in the arts and meet the professionals who work with Durham University’s art collection. This is an opportunity to hear what an Art Curator does, and how to pursue a career in a museum or gallery.
Available as:
- One hour online talk
- One hour talk in your school
Behind the Scenes
Visit our Art Store to view first-hand how a collection is stored, catalogued, and conserved. There will also be discussions around the types of careers that can be developed in the creative industries.
Available as:
- Two hour online session
- Half day visit to the Art Collection
Citizenship Workshops
Help your students understand the world around them better through experiencing cultures, people and collections from around the globe and throughout history. Add context, colour and creativity to your teaching by visiting our collections.
Defining National Identities
What does it mean to be British? This session focuses on how national identities can be expressed. Compare Britain to Vietnam, a country that has 54 officially recognised nationalities and get hands on with our collection of Vietnamese objects, each with a story to tell.
Available as:
- One hour online session
- Half day visit to the Oriental Museum
History Workshops
See how you can support your teaching by visiting our collections. We support teaching across a huge range of subjects from the History of Medicine, through to Crime and Punishment, the Tudors and the Normans.
Crime and Punishment
This session uses a range of primary sources to consider perceptions of crime, and how criminals were punished, in the 19th century. Material from our archives about prisoners, prisons and reformers can be viewed by students. So, book a visit to discover more about debtors, Elizabeth Fry and infamous serial murderer Mary Ann Cotton.
Available as:
- One hour online session
- Half day visit to Palace Green Library
- Half day outreach visit to school
The History of Medicine
Find out more about the work of Vesalius and Paré and discover why their names are still revered in this hands-on session. This workshop provides rare access to key texts from our archive used in the study of the history of medicine.
Available as:
- One hour online session
The Normans in Durham
The Normans transformed Durham, building the Castle and the Cathedral. During this visit, students will be taken around Durham Castle, looking at why it was built, how the Normans ruled their lands and the impact they had on the region.
Available as:
- Half day visit to Durham Castle
The Tudors
The Tudor dynasty is one of the most critical periods in British history, with society undergoing radical change from the monarchy down. During this session, students will get the opportunity to study archival material, have a go at palaeography (reading old writing) and explore our handling collection.
Available as:
- One hour online session
- Half day visit to Palace Green Library and Durham Castle
Transatlantic Slave Trade
The team are currently redeveloping this session. Please check back for updates.
Currently unavailable
Religious Education Workshops
What better way to understand a person's faith than to experience the objects, art and artefacts inspired by that faith? We have collections stretching from Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism through to Shintoism. Come and find out more!
Comparative World Religions
The collections of the Oriental Museum can be used to study religions from across the globe including Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism. This session encourages students to learn more about different faiths through artworks and other associated objects. Students will be given the opportunity to explore the galleries and handle museum artefacts.
Available as:
- Half day visit to the Oriental Museum
Widening Participation and Raising Aspirations
We are keen to work with schools and colleges, starting at Primary School age on Widening Participation and Raising Aspirations projects. We design these projects in consultation with individual schools and staff.
Please contact us to start planning ways we can help to inspire and encourage your pupils.