What’s On Events Calendar

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

• Exhibition
• Everyone

Visit the Student Art Prize 2023/24 exhibition and explore this years theme of Paradise.

• Creative
• 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

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

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

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

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

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

• Family friendly
• Children and families

Join us on Sunday, 14th July from 1-4pm at the Museum of Archaeology for a unique opportunity to learn about archaeological illustration. Part of the Festival of Archaeology, this event is free and open to everyone—no experience necessary.

• Creative
• Festival
• Holiday activities
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join us for some autism-friendly lego fun for families at the Oriental Museum when the galleries are quieter.

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

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 Durham University’s Museum of Archaeology Greek and Roman collections with artist Sarah Li in this unique workshop. Delve into LGBTQIA+ histories, engage in Queer storytelling, and create your own piece of embroidery.

• Creative
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Festival
• Holiday activities
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Students in HE

Be part of the Festival of Archaeology and DUScience100 with a family-friendly event at the Museum of Archaeology. Join Out There Adventures Living History Team as they bring Roman archaeology to life, and meet our curators who will share fascinating insights into our collections.

• Holiday activities
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

A creative workshop led by the artist Zara Worth for 7 - 14 year olds!

• Creative
• Holiday activities
• Workshop
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• School students
• Young People

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