What’s On Events Calendar

An exhibition of our Archives and Special Collections, telling hidden stories from the shelves and strongrooms.

• Exhibition
• Everyone

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

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

Palace Green Library is open until 7pm the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month.

• Accessible
• Exhibition
• Lates
• Public
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Palace Green Library is open until 7pm the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month.

• Accessible
• Exhibitions
• Lates
• Public
• Everyone

Join the art team as they take you on a journey through the auditing the Durham University Art Collection.

• Lecture
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Talks, training, seminars & conferences
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Fascinating froggy friends in the Oriental Museum!

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• 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

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Oriental Museum is open until 7pm the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month.

• Accessible
• Exhibitions
• Lates
• Public
• Everyone

Join us for some fun, autism-friendly crafts for families at the Oriental Museum when the galleries are quieter. Experiment with colour, shape and pattern and paint your own unique artwork.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Workshop
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Come and celebrate Buddha's Birthday with us!

• Festival
• Outreach & community
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Young People

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

A student-led, family-friendly summer exhibition showcasing toys from across Asia and Egypt to celebrate a simple fact of humanity: we all love to play.

• Creative
• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Public
• Family friendly
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Palace Green Library is open until 7pm the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month.

• Accessible
• Exhibitions
• Lates
• Public
• Everyone

This exhibition marks the centenary of the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition, the first Western, and ultimately tragic, attempt to climb the highest mountain in the world.

• Creative
• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Partnerships & Collaboration
• Public
• Family friendly
• Everyone

Have you ever looked at an ancient castle and wondered how it’s still standing? This exhibition will explore the history of construction and building conservation at Durham Castle, with a particular focus on the Norman Chapel Project, a long-term endeavour to preserve the oldest free-standing building in Durham.

• Exhibition
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Come and start the Pride celebrations!

• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• 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

Explore our new photography exhibition!

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join one of our guided tours of Durham Castle - experience 1000 years of fascinating history and discover how the building has evolved in time and functions today as the home of University College.

• Public
• Tour
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join poet, picture-maker and playwright Lizzie Lovejoy in a workshop to combine creative writing and visual art.

• Creative
• Lates
• Performance
• Student experience
• Workshop
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• School students
• Students in HE
• Young People

Please join the Poetry Society for the launch Gentian, a poetry zine and display of poems responding to objects displayed in the Oriental Museum. With open mic, all welcome!

• Creative
• Exhibitions
• Lates
• Performance
• Student experience
• Everyone
• Friends of the Oriental Museum
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• School students
• Students in HE
• Young People

Living Objects shows a display of poems by DU Poetry Society

• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Children and families
• Everyone
• Friends of the Oriental Museum
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Local and family historians
• School students
• Students in HE
• Teachers / Home Educators
• Young People

Can you spot any mythical beasts or lion dogs in our galleries?

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Explore our beautiful Ancient Egyptian perfume jars, make up items and jewellery.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join us for quizzes and art games in the pub!

• Creative
• Lates
• Public
• Student experience
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Local and family historians
• Students in HE

Find out about the Indian tradition of Rangoli art, and make your own.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

A youth group for 12-18 year olds to learn practical art skills.

• Creative
• School students
• Young People

Dive into The Dynamic Universe of Gel Printing!

• Creative
• Lates
• Workshop
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• School students
• Students in HE
• Teachers / Home Educators
• Young People

Find out about teru teru bozu - the famous Japanese weather doll and have a go at making one.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join us for some fun, autism-friendly crafts for families at the Oriental Museum when the galleries are quieter. Experiment with ways of folding, scrunching and sticking to make your own paper sculpture.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Workshop
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Explore our new exhibition all about play and toys, then try making your own game.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Want to sharpen your drawing skills or draw? Join our Arts Social with Durham University's Art Collection for a tutored drawing session.

• Creative
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Students in HE

Explore the Oriental Museum's collection of Japanese Manga comics and create your own to take home.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Want to sharpen your drawing skills or draw? Join our Arts Social with Durham University's Art Collection for a tutored drawing session.

• Creative
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Students in HE

Tanabata is the Japanese summer star festival. Find out about this special time of year and make tanabata decorations.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

The Durham MG & Classic Car Club was formed in 2001 for local car enthusiasts interested in MG cars, both classic and modern. This informal gathering will showcase cars representing models produced from the late 1940s through to the early 2000s.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

A youth group for 12-18 year olds to learn practical art skills.

• Creative
• School students

Want to sharpen your drawing skills or draw? Join our Arts Social with Durham University's Art Collection for a tutored drawing session.

• Creative
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Students in HE

Handle some archaeological finds from Ancient Egypt and China and try our special archaeology trail.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Want to sharpen your drawing skills or draw? Join our Arts Social with Durham University's Art Collection for a tutored drawing session.

• Creative
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Students in HE

Did you know that yaks were a vital part of the first attempts to climb Mount Everest? Find out why and make cute yak puppet.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Explore our new exhibition, try our new playful gallery trail and make your own game.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Get a free mini sketchbook and try some easy, fun drawing ideas.

• Workshop
• Family friendly
• Children and families

Learn about the Chinese terracotta army, and make your own terracotta warrior from clay.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Find out why many Ancient Egyptians had terrible teeth and make a set of chompers from plasticine.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Decorate a glass jar with your favourite colours.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Experiment with colour and try paper marbling.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

See our huge Ancient Egyptian temple frieze and then make your own relief sculpture.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join us for a fun-filled day of exploring bear habitats on an interactive guided walk through the Garden, a messy bear art workshop and all your favourite bear stories.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Explore the sights and sounds of the Himalayas and make a cool mountain zine.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

A youth group for 12-18 year olds to learn practical art skills.

• Creative
• School students

Get interactive with our Crazy Creatures who are visiting the Garden for the day.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

See a beautiful boat on display and make your own watercolour sail boat.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Find out about the ancient Egyptian obelisk on display and create your own 3D model to take home.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Learn some Chinese characters and try writing your own.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join storyteller, Elizabeth Baker, for a whole host of stories and legends from some of the different countries where the wonderful plants in our Garden grow.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Bastet was the Ancient Egyptian goddess of protection. Find out why she was so important and make a fun cat painting.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Find out about the Shang Dynasty of China and make a scary taotie mask with embossed metal detail.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Create your own Indian-style miniature painting.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Create your own mini mosaic from glass tiles.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Get creative and make a mini Japanese Zen garden.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Find out about ancient Egyptian life and make your own sandy pyramid.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

A youth group for 12-18 year olds to learn practical art skills.

• Creative
• School students

See our fabulous Korean Moon Jar - then create a mini one from clay.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

See the magnificent horse on display in the China Gallery and make a hobby horse.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Find out about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year festival, and make a shofar musical instrument.

• Family friendly
• Children and families

A youth group for 12-18 year olds to learn practical art skills.

• Creative
• School students