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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 the range of new exhibitions online and across our venues this autumn

Journey of a Century: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum

This exhibition traces the extraordinary transformation of the Palace Museum over the past century - from imperial palace to world-renowned museum.
a black and white photograph if historic Chinese buildings with a colour section overlaid from the right corner to the centre

Echoes of Friendship: the Squire Family in Meiji Era Japan

A story of cultural exchange and enduring connection. Meet the Squires, a British family living in Japan more than 120 years ago.
Two European girls sit either side of a Japanese boy on a bench

Away from Home: the Untold Stories of Women Football Fans

An online exhibitions telling the stores of women football fans of Newcastle United and Sunderland AFC from the 1950s to the present day.
Image with football fans in the background and the words Away from Home over the top
View more

Upcoming events

Twilight Talks - Away From Home: The Untold Stories of Women Football Fans

Thursday 27 November, 2025
5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Museum of Archaeology
Image with football fans in the background and the words Away from Home over the top

Family Activities: Riding through Time!

Saturday 29 November, 2025
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Life size metal sculpture of two horses pulling a chariot

Saturday Archaeological Illustration Club-Small Finds Illustration

Saturday 6 December, 2025
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Museum of Archaeology
Photography of a table with an artefact being illustrated

Family Activities: Museum Bugs

Saturday 6 December, 2025
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Cartoon illustration of a bug under a magnifiying glass
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
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