Arts & Culture, University of Exeter

21/07/2026

Take a look at this opportunity from our friends at the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum ↓

10/07/2026

Sometimes the most intriguing stories are hidden in the smallest details. A handwritten dedication to "Mademoiselle Bertha" led us to discover who this 1894 drawing was created for: Bertha Salter, one of Devon's celebrated "Devonshire Nightingales".

Discover the fascinating story linking Brussels, Devon and artist Marcel Jefferys in our monthly collections blog: https://www.artsandcultureexeter.co.uk/news/the-canal-brussels-a-european-artwork-with-a-devon-connection

Image: 'The Canal, Brussels' by Marcel Jefferys, from the University of Exeter's Fine Art Collection.

The Arts and Culture team work across the colleges and campuses of the University of Exeter, and with creative partners around the South West region and beyond. Our mission is to Activate Creativity.

08/07/2026

In what has been a challenging time for many of our colleagues, it feels especially important to recognise moments that bring people together to share ideas, celebrate creativity, and reaffirm the value of the humanities. It is in that spirit that we reflect on our recent Activating Creativity symposium.

The richness of the conversations and the generosity with which ideas were shared made it an inspiring two days. We are extremely grateful for everyone's contributions, insights and enthusiasm across the event, and the discussions have given us much to reflect on. They will help shape the next stages of this growing conversation. A big thank you to everyone who travelled across the country to be with us.

We’ll be sharing a short write up, more photographs and a film about the event in the coming weeks but for now, here are a few snaps from an inspiring two-days.

Images: Steven Haywood.

18/06/2026

Day one of Activating Creativity focused on dialogue, reflection and connection.

Through conversations about the histories of creative practice across our universities, we explored the roots and realities that shape our work today. We were then joined by artist to map the complexities of creative roles in higher education using the Co-Production Oracle card deck.

It was brilliant afternoon of listening, learning and exchanging ideas that continue to shape discussions over our final day today.

A huge thanks to Small Acts for facilitating some playful networking through FACEBACK and musician Jim Causley for rounding off day one so beautifully yesterday evening!

17/06/2026

We're so looking forward to welcoming 50 delegates from across the UK today for our two-day Activating Creativity in UK Universities symposium!

Together, we will explore and share how creativity and artist-led practice can act as the connective tissue within our institutions supporting strategic areas such as Research, Place-Making and Curriculum Reform.

Watch this space for updates!

13/06/2026

Rehearsals for this afternoon’s artist performance with Robyn Bamford at the MA Curation exhibition When the Earth Holds Us Quietly!⭐️

Starting with an acoustic guitar set by Francesca Brown at 14:00, the artist performance beginning at 14:30 demonstrates how Robyn creates her soundscapes using her ceramic ‘Water Flutes’.

Robyn says that “there is no way that a person can create something like an experience in nature, because it’s perfect as it is - what I’m trying to create is an essence, or trying to find a way to communicate it.”🌾

Old Underground Passages entrance, Roman Gate, Exeter

09/06/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our Review Writing Competition winner, Lucy Cornwell, and to runners-up Kitty Carter and Alex Wildee! 🎉

We ran this review-writing competition in partnership with the English and Creative Writing Department to provide real-world opportunities for undergraduate English and Creative Writing students to write and engage with cultural events in the city.

We are planning on running the same competition next year, so watch this space! 👀

08/06/2026

A rare opportunity to engage with both the science and the lived experience of Menopause.

🩰 The Silent Transition is a dance performance that transforms research and real experiences into breath, tension, rhythm, gesture, and release.

The event is co-produced by the University of Exeter TIME Study, Dance Lab Collective, Tom Law Says, and the MPS Foundation.

⏰ 18:45 on Friday 26 June 2026.

🔗 Find out more and book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/menopause-the-silent-transition-tickets-1988580811739?aff=oddtdtcreator

06/06/2026

Us Folk, a joyful and compassionate celebration of community, is coming to the Northcott Theatre! Featuring dancers, musicians, and poets, Richard Chappell blends contemporary dance, ballet, and improvisation into an expressive performance.

👯‍♀️ Richard Chappell was one of our lead artists in our Leeside Arts Commission with Natural England.

You can watch the performance on Tuesday 16 June at the Northcott Theatre at 19:30. Find out more on the Northcott Theatre website: https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/us-folk/

04/06/2026

Multiplicity. Shared reality. Alternative worlds. Five curated exhibitions across Exeter.

REWORLDING is a series of five contemporary art exhibitions and site-specific installations taking place across the city, curated by students on the MA Curation course at University of Exeter.

The exhibitions are open from June 5th – 14th, 11am–4pm daily.

ENDURANCE (curated by Niga Salam)
💭 At the Institute of Arab & Islamic Studies, University of Exeter

Ways of (Machine) Seeing (curated by Leixinyun Huang and Yifan Yang)
💿 At the Former Body Shop in Exeter's Guildhall Shopping Centre

Parish Maps: Then, Now, Next (curated by Rebecca Wood)
🗺️ In Exeter Library

When the Earth Holds Us Quietly (curated by Indie Hansford, Thea Perignon and Laila Ross)
🌍 In the Underground Passages (old entrance)

Phantom Threads (curated by Kaia Brushaber, Liv Pattimore and Moyan Zhang)
🧑‍🧒 In Positive Light Projects


Photographs from current and past Curation projects.