What’s On Events Calendar
Penned and Printed
27 May 2023 - 31 March 2025
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
Student Art Prize 2023/34: Paradise
01 May 2024 - 31 March 2025
10:00 AM - 4:00 AM
Palatine Centre, Art Collection
Visit the Student Art Prize 2023/24 exhibition and explore this years theme of Paradise.
- Creative
- 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
Awesome Armies
02 August 2024 - 02 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Learn about the Chinese terracotta army, and make your own terracotta warrior from clay.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Terrible Teeth
03 August 2024 - 03 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Find out why many Ancient Egyptians had terrible teeth and make a set of chompers from plasticine.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Gorgeous Glass
07 August 2024 - 07 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Decorate a glass jar with your favourite colours.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Paper Marbling Workshop
09 August 2024 - 09 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Experiment with colour and try paper marbling.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Sculpture Saturday
10 August 2024 - 10 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
See our huge Ancient Egyptian temple frieze and then make your own relief sculpture.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Teddy Bear's Picnic
12 August 2024 - 12 August 2024
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Botanic Garden
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
Mountain Zine Making
14 August 2024 - 14 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Explore the sights and sounds of the Himalayas and make a cool mountain zine.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Durham Art Collective
14 August 2024 - 14 August 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
Crazy Creatures
15 August 2024 - 15 August 2024
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Botanic Garden
Get interactive with our Crazy Creatures who are visiting the Garden for the day.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Games Night Fun: Autism-Friendly Family Activities
15 August 2024 - 15 August 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Explore our new exhibition all about toys and games, then play some fun games like Ancient Egyptian senet, snakes and ladders and more - all while the museum galleries are generally quieter.
- Accessible
- Creative
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Workshop
- Family friendly
- Children and families
- Everyone
Sail Away
16 August 2024 - 16 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
See a beautiful boat on display and make your own watercolour sail boat.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Awesome Obelisks
17 August 2024 - 17 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Find out about the ancient Egyptian obelisk on display and create your own 3D model to take home.
- Family friendly
- Children and families
Chinese Writing Workshop
21 August 2024 - 21 August 2024
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Learn some Chinese characters and try writing your own.
- 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.