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Exhibitions and events

27 events

Pieces of paper laid out on the floor on top of each other.

Artists making books: poetry to politics
. Free .

This intriguing new show explores the history of artists taking on the medium of books.

Japanese festival float model teaser 1

Japan’s Festival Floats
. Free .

For centuries, summertime in Japan has centred around spectacular local festivals with costumes, singing, dancing and incredible floats.

A close up photograph of a silver griffin. The griffin has curled horns, a beak and gold details including its wings.

Luxury and power: Persia to Greece
. Book now .

Drawing on dazzling objects, this exhibition explores how luxury shaped the political landscape of Eurasia in the first millennium BC.

Ink and colour picture showing the head and shoulders of an elderly Chinese woman with her hair tied back. She is wearing green earings and a blue jacket decorated with gold leaves around the neck.

China’s hidden century
. Book now .

In a global first, the resilience and innovation of 19th-century China is revealed through the stories of its remarkable individuals.

Close up of painting depicting woman wearing ear muffs, a figure standing behind facing away and a third figure wearing grey.

Lectures & discussions / Study days & courses / Research event

£40
8 Jun 2023–9 Jun 2023

China's 1800s: material and visual culture
. Sold out .

A two-day conference about the material and visual culture of the last century of imperial China.

Kathy Hall in the costume of The Imperial Concubine Intoxicated. © G. Guifei.

£12
9 Jun 2023

The Imperial Concubine Intoxicated
. Book now .

Kathy Lee Hall presents a classic excerpt from 'The Imperial Concubine Intoxicated – The Hundred Flowers Pavilion' 贵妃醉酒–百花亭.

A close up photograph of a woman wearing a blue dress underwater, with the sun on her face and her eyes closed.

£10
11 Jun 2023

Dauntless – Grace O'Malley, Pirate Queen
. Book now .

Debs Newbold gleefully delivers the boisterous, remarkable and inspirational story of her hero: Grainne ni Mhaille – Grace O'Malley.

Bust of Ramesses the Great in Room 4

Online events / Lectures & discussions / Members' exclusive

£16 (Members)
12 Jun 2023

Ramesses the Great: Egypt's king of kings
. Book now .

Join acclaimed Egyptologist Toby Wilkinson to explore the life, dramatic reign and enduring legacy of the pharaoh Ramesses the Great.

Colourful kimono-like informal gown with a swooping phoenix on the front. Colours are mainly brown, pink, purple and blue.

Accessible event

15 Jun 2023

Audio-described tour of China’s hidden century exhibition
. Book now .

VocalEyes' Timna Fibert leads this audio-described event, which provides evocative visual descriptions with a guided tour of the exhibition.

Detail of gold ornament showing head of lion-griffin.

Lectures & discussions

16 Jun 2023

Persian and Greek arts in the world of the Scythian warriors of Asia
. Book now .

Join archaeologist and Central Asia specialist Henri-Paul Francfort as he explores the art of the Oriental steppe of Eurasia.

On the left, a limestone head of a male statue with curly hair and beard and a wreath of leaves on his head. On the right, a marble portrait of an ageing man with curling beard and moustache.

Members' conference / Members' exclusive

£75 (Members)
17 Jun 2023

Great civilisations: Greece and Persia
. Book now .

Members are invited to this exclusive day-long conference, featuring talks by leading experts on the ancient Greek and Persian worlds.

Selection of gold, silver and glass tableware, including dishes and drinking vessels.

Lectures & discussions / Study days & courses

£35
18 Jun 2023

Gold, silver and glass from the Middle East to the Eurasian steppe
. Book now .

In this one-day international conference, scientific research will be used to throw new light on the luxury materials of antiquity.