What’s On Events Calendar

Our iconic book takes centre stage at Palace Green Library.

• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Holiday activities
• Public
• Everyone

Jointly organised by the Palace Museum and the Oriental Museum

• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Public
• Family friendly
• Global
• Everyone

An installation by artist Ruth Flowers, developed through Place Lab—a creative initiative from Into the Light and delivered by No More Nowt and Ogre Studios.

• Exhibition
• Exhibitions
• Public
• Family friendly
• Everyone

A story of cultural exchange and enduring connection

• Exhibitions
• Everyone

Explore the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia.

• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join the Saturday Archaeological Illustration Club to develop your skills in archaeological illustration. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned illustrator, these sessions offer a chance to refine your technique, interact with real artefacts, and engage with the archaeology community in a relaxed, informal environment.

• Creative
• Outreach & community
• Public
• Talks, training, seminars & conferences
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Local and family historians
• Students in HE

Find out how we stop pests from eating the museum's precious collections and make your own museum bug.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.

• Creative
• Public
• Family friendly
• Under 5s

Explore our Silk Roads gallery, see our beautiful Islamic window grill and make a window decoration.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.

• Creative
• Public
• Family friendly
• Under 5s

Find out how Christmas is celebrated around the world and decorate a Christmas decoration to take home.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Find out why the Ancient Egyptians had bad teeth and make your own set of chompers to take away.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Get ready for Valentine's day and spot the devoted Korean wedding ducks at the museum and make a quacky companion of your own.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Experiment with layering colour and sgraffito scratch art.

• Creative
• Public
• Workshop
• Alumni
• Everyone
• Friends of the Oriental Museum
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups

Visit our new exhibition about two British girls who went to live in Japan in the early 1900s. Find out about their lives in Japan and how they stayed in touch with their friends after returning to the north-east. Then design and write a postcard your own postcard - who will you post it to?

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Spot the ancient Phoenician hedgehog pot in our Silk Roads Gallery and make a super cute pine cone hedgehog!

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Learn all about the Ancient Egyptian god Horus and make an Eye of Horus amulet.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Join the Saturday Archaeological Illustration Club to develop your skills in archaeological illustration. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned illustrator, these sessions offer a chance to refine your technique, interact with real artefacts, and engage with the archaeology community in a relaxed, informal environment.

• Creative
• Public
• Talks, training, seminars & conferences
• Everyone
• Lifelong Learners and Community groups
• Local and family historians
• Students in HE

Learn about birds from the beautiful forests of South Asia and make your own feathered friend to take home.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone

Learn all about our special Chinese clock and make a super star decoration to take home.

• Accessible
• Creative
• Family friendly
• Children and families
• Everyone