What’s On
Find out what’s on at our venues across Durham. From major exhibitions to family friendly craft sessions, tours, lectures and art workshops. We have something to interest everyone. You can also find out more about our regular groups and online exhibitions and events.
Special exhibitions
Explore exciting events and exhibitions across our venues.
Voices: contemporary art and craft from the Middle East and North Africa
An exhibition celebrating the work of emerging contemporary artists and designers recently acquired by the Oriental Museum.
Celebrate the arrival of Spring
Enjoy blossom themed displays throughout the Japan gallery at the Oriental Museum
Penned and Printed
An exhibition of our Archives and Special Collections, telling hidden stories from the shelves and strongrooms.
Upcoming events
Twilight Talk - Discoveries from the Art Collection auditing project
Thursday 9 May, 2024
5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Durham World Heritage Site Visitor Centre, Museum of Archaeology
Twilight Opening at Palace Green Library
Thursday 9 May, 2024
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Durham World Heritage Site Visitor Centre, Museum of Archaeology
Froggy Friends
Saturday 11 May, 2024
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Voices: contemporary art and craft from the Middle East and North Africa
Friday 29 September, 2023
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Oriental Museum
New Chinese ceramic displays
Following a major refurbishment, the MacDonald Gallery of China at the Oriental Museum has now reopened
Enjoy the highlights from our amazing Chinese collections ranging from ancient bronze weapons to magnificent jades carved for the emperor and his court and follow a timeline of Chinese ceramic history from the Neolithic period to the 21st century.
Find out more about our Chinese collections
Online exhibitions
Explore our collections from home with our online exhibition programme.
Journeys: Reading the World
Explore themes of travel, adventure and exploration using the rare books, diaries, maps and letters in Palace Green Library special collections.
Hidden Stories From the River Wear
Explore the collections of underwater archaeologist, Gary Bankhead, in an exhibition by students from Durham University.
Taxila in Focus: 100 years Since Marshall
This exhibition focuses on the ancient site of Taxila, around 32 kilometres from Pakistan’s federal capital, Islamabad.
Join our Friends
Our Botanic Garden, Oriental Museum and Palace Green Library all have Friends organisations which organise events and lectures including special members-only experiences.
Regular activities
Durham University Library and Collections offer a range of fun, engaging and accessible workshops, resources and experiences for people of all ages.
Creative Age
Creative Age is a free, weekly art group for people living with dementia or other long-term health challenges and their carers.
Durham Archaeology Explorers
Our archaeology club for children aged 7 - 11, meeting monthly at the Oriental Museum as well as trips to local archaeological and heritage sites.
Little Dragons
Come along to Little Dragons under-fives group and explore the Oriental Museum's fantastic collections and exhibitions.
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