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Medieval wall painting clue to Durham Castle’s high-status past

A hidden section of medieval wall painting, not seen for hundreds of years, is giving clues to the grand past of Durham Castle.
A man with a beard and glasses looks at a fragment of medieval wall painting in a masonry style with a red flower and stem motif

Welcoming the Year of the Horse

A series of events to usher in the Year of the Horse saw collaboration between our student groups and the local community.
A montage of images picturing crafts, Chinese calligraphy, lion dance, and the game 'Go'

Oriental Museum presents Spring Festival family events

The Oriental Museum has announced a fun-packed programme of cultural and faith events this Spring. These family-friendly celebrations promise vibrant performances, traditional storytelling, and engaging cultural activities for visitors of all ages.
Oriental Museum Gallery decorated with traditional Chinese lanterns for Year of the horse celebrations

Strengthening partnerships with Japan

On Monday 24 November we welcomed The Deputy Director of the National Museum of Japanese History and the Minister for Public Diplomacy and Media from the Japanese Embassy in London, to Durham.
Japanese guests from the Natioanal Museum of Japanese History and Culture Ambassador with Vice-Chancellor adn Rachel Barclay Curator of the Oriental Museum, standing in the gallery, opening the exhibition 'Hands of friendship' November 2025. Memorandum of Understanding

Encore for award-winning Shakespeare First Folio exhibition

Following a hugely successful first six months, we’re extending our Shakespeare Recovered exhibition showcasing Durham’s copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio.
Durham Unviersity copy of William Shakespeare First Folio, on display in the centre of the image, with other display cases to the sides and vivid lighting underneath

All aboard for science: Celebrate Science 2025 arrives at Locomotion

Our annual Celebrate Science festival is back this October half term, and for the first time, it’s pulling into a new venue at Locomotion railway museum in Shildon, part of the Science Museum Group.
Children engaging with science experiments

Durham loans items to National Portrait Gallery for international exhibit

Our University Library and Collections have loaned literary items to the National Portrait Gallery (NPG). The books are travelling with the Writers Revealed touring exhibition to Busan, South Korea and Shanghai, China.
A gallery with portraits and lighting

Celebrate Diwali, Festival of Lights at the Oriental Museum

The spirit of Diwali will light up the Oriental Museum on Saturday 18 October, 6-8pm as students and community volunteers welcome visitors to enjoy this vibrant celebration.
A lady dressed in a sari leads the Diwali Lakshmi Puja ceremony by holding a Puja plate in front of the shrine. The shrine is decorated in flower garlands. Other people stand around the central lady praying with traditional Indian dress.

Durham hosts exhibition marking 100 years of China’s Palace Museum

We’re hosting a new exhibition marking the centenary of China’s prestigious Palace Museum.
A group of people stand looking at the camera in front of a display board reading Journey of a Century

Heritage and renewal at Durham Castle: step into history this autumn

Find out about the latest at Durham Castle, including celebrations for this year’s Heritage Open Days, and an update on the revitalisation of the historic Fellows’ Garden.

Vote for our Botanic Garden to be RHS Partner of the year

Fans of the Botanic Garden are being invited to place their votes in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Garden of the Year competition. Voters will also be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 RHS Garden gift voucher.
Botanic Garden lawn view with visitors

MA students launch two new storytelling exhibitions for the summer 

Two new, major exhibitions curated by MA Museum and Artefact Studies students exploring the art and history of storytelling, are now open and free to attend all summer. Visitors can discover ‘Beasts and Legends’ at Palace Green Library and ‘Telling Tales’ at the Oriental Museum.
title of exhibition and drawings of range of Asian objects