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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.
Group of people at an exhibition

Special exhibitions

Explore exhibitions created by Durham University students.

Beasts and Legends: Adventures Through North East Folklore

A free exhibition which explores the development of storytelling throughout historic County Durham.
A shadow silhouette of a person with a sword fighting off a group of shadowy monsters

Telling Tales: Making Stories Come to Life

Experience the joy and wonder of storytelling through the Oriental Museum's new summer exhibition.
three carved wooden statues each holding a musical instrument

Under Durham: the Untold Stories

An online exhibition exploring Durham's past through the ordinary people who lived and worked here.
A image of the words Under Durham the Untold stories
View more

Upcoming events

Family Activities: Exploring the Forbidden City

Saturday 1 November, 2025
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Watercolour drawing of cartoon cat in traditional Chinese robe

Saturday Archaeological Illustration Club

Saturday 1 November, 2025
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Museum of Archaeology
Photography of a table with an artefact being illustrated

Shakespeare Recovered: Durham's First Folio

Friday 4 April, 2025
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Historic Libraries
Portrait of William Shakespeare

Beasts and Legends: Adventures Through North East Folklore

Saturday 14 June, 2025
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Historic Libraries
A shadow silhouette of a person with a sword fighting off a group of shadowy monsters
More upcoming events

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.
Collage image of items included in the Journeys exhibition, including a giant from Gulliver’s Travels, a tourist with binoculars, Notre Dame Cathedral, a plane, a world map, three arctic explorers and an aeroplane.

Hidden Stories From the River Wear

Explore the collections of underwater archaeologist, Gary Bankhead, in an exhibition by students from Durham University.
River Wear Exhibition logo showing outline of the river and map of Durham from above

Bridging Identities: the Cultural Odyssey of Kurdistani Jews

This exhibition combines contemporary and historic photography to show how cultural roots and a sense of history helps new communities to form today.
A group of people holding hands and dancing around a living room.
View more online exhibitions

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.

A group of people stood examining a piece of artwork

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.
    Journey, a collaborative artwork made by the Creative Age group and artist Marián Hernandez Villada.

  • 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.
    Child in high-vis jacket taking part in Durham Archaeology Explorers

  • Little Dragons

    Come along to Little Dragons under-fives group and explore the Oriental Museum's fantastic collections and exhibitions.
    Toddler enjoying Little Dragons under-fives session

Creative Age

Creative Age is a free, weekly art group for people living with dementia or other long-term health challenges and their carers.
Journey, a collaborative artwork made by the Creative Age group and artist Marián Hernandez Villada.

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.
Child in high-vis jacket taking part in Durham Archaeology Explorers

Little Dragons

Come along to Little Dragons under-fives group and explore the Oriental Museum's fantastic collections and exhibitions.
Toddler enjoying Little Dragons under-fives session
Find a session

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