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A family sitting together reading

Families and Lifelong Learning

Durham University Library and Collections offer a range of fun, engaging and accessible workshops, resources and experiences for people of all ages. Find out more below and we look forward to welcoming you to our venues. 

Families and Children 

Discover the incredible collections in our venues for families of all ages with our wide-ranging family programme suitable for multiple age groups.

A parent and child are sat smiling whilst colouring in a craft activity in the Silk Roads Gallery of the Oriental Museum
Families
Child in high-vis jacket taking part in Durham Archaeology Explorers
Durham Archaeology Explorers
An image of a young boy holding a piece of artwork he and his parent, sat to his left have made together. The boy is stood, his mother is sat on the floor.
Under-fives
Crowd of people taking part in the powder throw at Holi Festival. The people are jumping in the air and are covered in coloured powder.
Festivals

Lifelong Learning

People of all ages want to learn and explore, discover our offer for learners of all ages and abilities. Learn something new, discover incredible stories in our collections and meet like-minded people in our welcoming and friendly spaces.

Learn more

Lifelong Learning Groups

We welcome lifelong learning groups such as the University of the Third Age (U3A), Women’s Institute (WI), Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) and more.
Lifelong learning group member taking part in a workshop handling museum objects.

Creative Age

Creative Age is a free, weekly art group for people living with dementia or other long-term health challenges and their carers.
A pair of older participants at Creative Age

Visiting Clubs and Groups

We welcome lifelong learning groups such as Rainbows, Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Guides or other adult or children's community groups at all our venues.

Book Club

The Library and Collections Book Club meets on the last Thursday of every month from 5pm - 6pm in the Oriental Museum café.
A group of people taking part in the Book Club

Upcoming events

Twilight Opening at Palace Green Library

Thursday 12 September, 2024
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Durham World Heritage Site Visitor Centre, Museum of Archaeology
External image of PGL at dusk

Magnificent Moon Jar

Saturday 14 September, 2024
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Artist: Mun, Mr Pyung, 2013. White porcelain moon jar. Jar has a full, rounded body with a slightly raised base. The opening is moderately wide and the rim of the jar is slightly raised with straight sides. The body of the jar is unevenly potted and the line where the two parts of the jar were moulded together is still faintly visible, this runs around the central circumference of the object.

Heritage Open Day: Free Durham Castle Tours

Sunday 15 September, 2024
11:15 AM to 4:15 PM
Durham Castle
Castle Tour standing in front of the Norman Arch.

Toy Box: celebrating toys and games across cultures

Thursday 23 May, 2024
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Cartoon of a pink Chinese dragon and a Japanese toy cart
View all upcoming events

 

 

People taking part in an accessible touch tour event and handling museum objects.

Accessibility

Support for neurodiversity, physical access and more information can be found here for our programmes and workshops.

Accessible workshops