Arts and culture
Exeter is home to a diverse and dynamic arts and culture scene that sets it firmly on the map as a cultural centre of the South West. It also plays a vital role in maintaining Exeter’s reputation as a thriving, flourishing and creative city.
As well as numerous independent theatres, the city centre has multiplex cinemas and smaller independent cinema venues. There's also an award-winning museum, a number of independent galleries, and a sizeable arts centre and creative hub right in the city centre.
Did you know that we even have a museum on our Streatham Campus? The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum has one of Britain’s largest collections relating to the moving image. Explore their extensive collection of memorabilia, toys, images and artefacts from the 17th century to the present, right on campus.
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery (RAMM) has a wonderfully diverse collection of more than one million individual objects and specimens from across the world. Their collections include items of local, national and international importance, and many are of outstanding historical or cultural significance.
In the heart of the city centre is Exeter Phoenix, a world-class multi-artform venue. With hundreds of events every year, spanning all genres of music, art, film, theatre and comedy, there is something to pique everyone’s interest.
Housed in the former home of the University's Law School just off Gandy Street, the Phoenix includes a print workshop, radio station, digital hub, dance studios, a large auditorium for gigs and film screenings, and numerous exhibition spaces, as well as an excellent café bar.
The facilities, location, sound, bar, food, plus the diversity and quality of the acts Exeter Phoenix attracts are all first-rate, making it a cultural beacon for the South West.
Film
The city centre is home to two multiplex cinemas (Odeon and Vue) plus a pair of smaller independent cinema venues (Picturehouse and Exeter Phoenix) should you prefer world cinema, arthouse and independent films as well as mainstream movies.
Theatre
There are several great theatres in Exeter, including the Northcott Theatre located right on our Streatham Campus. Barnfield Theatre is another great venue in the city centre. One of Exeter’s best-kept secrets, Barnfield Theatre offers a wide variety of entertainment including theatre, comedy, music and dance.
The Exeter Corn Exchange is another must-visit. One of the largest multi-purpose venues in the city, you can catch a concert here or laugh out loud at one of their frequent comedy shows.