What’s On Events Calendar
Penned and Printed
27 May 2023 - 31 August 2024
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Historic Libraries
An exhibition of our Archives and Special Collections, telling hidden stories from the shelves and strongrooms.
- Exhibition
- Everyone
Toy Box: celebrating toys and games across cultures
23 May 2024 - 15 September 2024
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Oriental Museum
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
Eternal Ascent: Bentley Beetham and the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition
24 May 2024 - 15 September 2024
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Oriental Museum
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
Under Durham: The Untold Stories
24 May 2024 - 21 November 2024
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Museum of Archaeology
When you think about the history of Durham, what comes to mind? Beautiful architecture, rich and powerful people and the history you find in textbooks. But how often do we stop and think about the lives of ordinary people? This exhibition explores the past of Durham through the ordinary people who lived and worked here.
- Exhibition
- Everyone
Repair and Care: The Norman Chapel Project
24 May 2024 - 17 November 2024
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Durham Castle
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
DU Poetry Society 'Living Objects'
31 May 2024 - 30 September 2024
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Oriental Museum, Art Collection
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
Perfect Perfume
01 June 2024 - 01 June 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Explore our beautiful Ancient Egyptian perfume jars, make up items and jewellery.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
ART SOCIAL: SOCIAL!
05 June 2024 - 05 June 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Art Collection
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
Make a Rangoli
08 June 2024 - 08 June 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Find out about the Indian tradition of Rangoli art, and make your own.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Durham Art Collective
12 June 2024 - 12 June 2024
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
7 Owengate, Art Collection
A youth group for 12-18 year olds to learn practical art skills.
- Creative
- School students
- Young People
Gel Plate Printmaking Workshop with Sarah Calavera
14 June 2024 - 14 June 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
7 Owengate, Art Collection
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
Wonderful Weather Dolls
15 June 2024 - 15 June 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Find out about teru teru bozu - the famous Japanese weather doll and have a go at making one.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Botanic Garden Fun Day
16 June 2024 - 16 June 2024
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Botanic Garden
Following the success of last year’s inaugural Botanic Garden Fun Day, this has now become an annual event and will take place on Sunday 16 June, from 10am-4pm. This family-friendly, Fun Day offers loads of free activities, all in the beautiful surroundings of the Garden.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Autism-Friendly Family Activities
20 June 2024 - 20 June 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Oriental Museum
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
Play Time!
22 June 2024 - 22 June 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Explore our new exhibition all about play and toys, then try making your own game.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Portrait and Figure Drawing with Isabel Gotti 1. Portrait Drawing Crash Course
28 June 2024 - 28 June 2024
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
7 Owengate, Art Collection
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
Magnificent Manga
29 June 2024 - 29 June 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Explore the Oriental Museum's collection of Japanese Manga comics and create your own to take home.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
What’s on across our venues
Our unique cultural attractions include Durham Castle, Botanic Garden, Historic Libraries at Palace Green, Oriental Museum, Museum of Archaeology and our World Heritage Site Visitor Centre. Whatever your interest, there's something for everyone to enjoy.