What’s On Events Calendar

An exhibition celebrating the work of emerging contemporary artists and designers from the Middle East and North Africa recently acquired by the Oriental Museum.

• Exhibitions
• Everyone

Check out the 700 year old Buddha head on display and then make a mandala, a traditional form of Buddhist art.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.

• Creative
• Public
• Under 5s

Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.

• Creative
• Public
• Under 5s

Find out how Christmas is celebrated around the world and decorate ceramic Christmas decorations to take home.

• Workshop
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Learn about how spices were traded along the Silk Road and make your own mini spice bag to take home.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Inspired by our Japanese woodblock print, try making your own snowy picture.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Spot the camels in our Silk Roads Gallery and make a cool camel to take home.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Ganesha is an elephant-headed god from the religion of Hinduism. Create your own super Ganesha puppet.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Calling all craft kids and grown-ups! Welcome in the Lunar New Year and make some dragon decorations to display at the museum.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

From baskets to saris, lots of objects around us are woven. Come along and try your hand at nature weaving.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Inspired by our Korean wedding ducks on display, create your own duck from clay.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join us for some half term creative fun and make a GIANT cardboard sculpture. Be prepared to get messy!

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Investigate ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and write your own secret messages on papyrus.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join us for a late night opening at the Oriental Museum to mark the Lunar New Year. Try fantastic crafts, sample delicious New Year food, listen to stories, music and more.

• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Outreach & community
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone
• Friends of the Oriental Museum
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Students in HE
• Young People

See our magnificent set of traditional Hina Matsuri dolls - only displayed for a short time each year in the run up the Hina Matsuri - and create your own Emperor or Empress doll to take home.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Explore the hats, helmets and headdresses in the galleries and make your own fabulous headgear to dress up in.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Welcome the spring season to Durham with Holi Festival!

• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Festival
• Children and families
• Everyone

Paper was invented in China. Find out how paper changed our world and make your own paper playground!

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone