Events

Dig Deeper – Thu 24 Apr 2025

Dates: Thursday 24 April 2025–Friday 20 June 2025, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Venue: DIG

24 April – 20 June 2025 | 10am – 4pm | DIG | Included in admission price | Book now

Step into the world of ancient gladiators and uncover a truly unique encounter at DIG! While gladiators battling lions and bears have long captured the imagination, evidence of these fierce encounters has been limited to historical texts and artistic depictions—until now.

This spring, DIG is proud to present an extraordinary display: skeletal remains believed to bear genuine lion bite marks. Alongside this discovery, witness a stunning facial reconstruction that brings history vividly to life.

Join our Dig Deeper tours—an exclusive, adult-focused experience held at the end of each day. These tours spotlight the gladiator remains and other fascinating artifacts from our collection. Learn from real archaeologists, ask your burning questions about life on a dig, and handle replica artifacts. You’ll also gain hands-on experience in our interactive dig pits, discovering what it’s like to uncover the past.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to come face-to-face with history. Book your visit today!

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Sketchbook Circle at York Art Gallery – Wed 21 May 2025

Date: Wednesday 21 May 2025, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

1:30pm-3:30pm, £5 per person

Book tickets here

Tickets will become available approximately a month in advance.

Pick up a pencil – draw and discover!

Give yourself time to sharpen and share your drawing skills in this two-hour sketching workshop with artist Griselda Goldsbrough.

Enjoy working in sketchbooks in a relaxed and friendly group, taking inspiration from the collections at York Art Gallery. Materials provided.

These informal practical art sessions are for adults only (16+) and are suitable for absolute beginners or those who create regularly.

Sessions will run on one Wednesday each month.(Please book separately for each session).

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Gallery talk: The Modern Art of the Book – Thu 22 May 2025

Date: Thursday 22 May 2025, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Gallery talk: The Modern Art of the Book by Professor Michael White
Thursday 22 May 2025 | 2pm
Included in gallery admission

Miller took inspiration from the covers of Penguin Books, the design of which was regularised in the 1940s by the celebrated German graphic designer, Jan Tschichold. This talk will investigate the sources of Tschichold’s guidelines for modern typography and book design in experimental works of art created in the 1920s by artists such as El Lisstizky and Kurt Schwitters. The story takes us from concepts of abstract art into popular book design and then back into art with Miller.

This event takes place on gallery and limited seating is available.

The talk lasts for approximately half an hour.

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Peter Addyman in Conversation – Thu 22 May 2025

Date: Thursday 22 May 2025, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Peter Addyman in Conversation
22 May 2025 | 7pm – 8.30pm | Tempest Anderson Hall, Yorkshire Museum | £5 per person | Book now

There is probably no-one in York with the depth of archaeological experience that Peter Addyman has collected since he arrived in the city in 1972.Ever since he co-founded the York Archaeological Trust in 1976, he has been involved in research, digs and written papers covering all periods of archaeological research in York.

At this event Peter will be talking about some of his experiences – some known, some still not published, many of them relating to Roman sites in the city and surrounds – aided and provoked by John Oxley, the former City of York Council archaeologist.

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New perspectives on Roman York: showcasing current archaeological research – Fri 23 May 2025

Date: Friday 23 May 2025, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

New perspectives on Roman York: showcasing current archaeological research
23 May 2025 | 1pm – 5pm | Tempest Anderson Hall, Yorkshire Museum | £10 per person | Book now

The latest research concerning Roman York will be showcased in a symposium that brings together the most important scholars working on the archaeology of York and Yorkshire. Recent research has considerably changed the view of the city and the people who lived there.

Talks by Martin Millett, Elisha Meadows, Maureen Carroll, Eva Mol, David Harbourne and James Gerrard.

View the full programme

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Making Mosaics – Sat 24 May 2025

Date: Saturday 24 May 2025, All Day
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Making Mosaics
24 May 2025 | Included in general admission | Book now

Make a mosaic inspired by our beautiful Roman mosaic at the Yorkshire Museum in this fun and informal drop in workshop suitable for all the family.

Suitable for all ages. Drop-in throughout the day.

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Meet Me at The Yorkshire Museum – Sat 24 May 2025

Date: Saturday 24 May 2025, All Day
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Meet Me at The Yorkshire Museum
24 May 2025 | Included in general admission | Book now

Ever wanted to run into a Roman?

This is YOUR invitation to ….

…….. MEET ME AT THE YORKSHIRE!

Suitable for all ages.

Short stories, music, games and object handling throughout the day. Times will be advertised at the Museum.

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Roman Living History Camp in York Museum Gardens – Sat 24 May 2025

Dates: Saturday 24 May 2025–Sunday 25 May 2025, All Day
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Roman Living History Camp in York Museum Gardens
24 and 25 May 2025 | 10am – 5pm | Free admission

Romans will once again take over York Museum Gardens with a living history encampment demonstrating the Roman way of life. This is a family friendly and free event for everyone to enjoy.

Explore the day-to-day lives of citizens and centurions through living-history demonstrations, expert talks, hands-on activities and storytelling for all ages.

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Tales from the Trail: Kirkgate – Sat 24 May 2025

Date: Saturday 24 May 2025, All Day
Venue: York Castle Museum

Tales from the Trail: Kirkgate
Times will be advertised at the museum on the day

Included in general admission

Do you know your grocer’s from your greengrocer’s?

Hardware from haberdasher’s?

Confectioner’s from chemist’s? ……. ( hope so!)

Prepare for silliness, stories and urgent shopping with our Kirkgate characters. Pick up a copy of our free Time Travellers Trail at the ticket desk so you can get involved too!

Two slightly madcap Victorian characters will be on Kirkgate at various times during the days to interact with each other and with the visitors. Short scenes take place, each concerning a story or a bit of fun about objects to be purchased from the shops of Kirkgate, all belonging within our Time Travellers museum trail.

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Roman Treasure Hunt – Sat 24 May 2025

Date: Saturday 24 May 2025, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Venue:

A Roman treasure hunt

24 May 2025

10am-3pm

A free activity for families spread across the city, from the Yorkshire Museum to DIG in St Saviourgate. Participants will help save Eboracum from disaster, whilst learning about life in Roman York.

The trails runs 24-25 May, and 28-30 May from 10am to 3pm.

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