From us…
After a number of years, the Exeter Culture programme has come to an end.
Exeter Culture began as a strategic collaboration between the University of Exeter, Exeter City Council and the city’s cultural sector. Developing out of what was then called the Exeter Cultural Partnership – the original collective of cultural, sports, and heritage organisations in Exeter – the network was rebranded as Exeter Culture in 2018 to better align with similar cultural development programmes and organisations in the city and region.
We’re immensely proud of all we’ve achieved through the Exeter Culture programme, including:
Driving the city’s first Place-based Cultural Strategy
Leading on the development of the city’s Public Art Strategy
Co-ordinating the successful application for Exeter to become a UNESCO City of Literature, establishing the brand and supporting it to spin out of the University – it is now an Arts Council-supported National Portfolio Organisation
Commissioning a report by Charles Landry on Exeter’s potential to be a progressive, culture-driven city
Commissioning Blind Ditch to produce the Co-mission report on how to effectively embed culture in the planning process
Collaborating with the EUniverCities Network to promote international cultural partnerships, best practice sharing and exchange opportunities, including taking Exeter practitioners to Ghent, Belgium (December 2019) as part of the Exeter Interchange programme. The other international trips planned (to Innsbruck, Austria and Parma, Italy) were cancelled due to Covid
Commissioning ‘Get-in, Get-out, Get On: Successfully Delivering Outdoor Performance Work in Covid Times’ – an online session focused on good practice and guidance for outdoor performance-based work amidst the global pandemic
Collaborating with InExeter and Visit Exeter to coordinate June Boom 2025 – a citywide campaign designed to showcase the incredible events, arts, and cultural activities happening across Exeter in June
Providing practitioners and organisations with advice and guidance around funding applications, as well as contributing letters of support and more direct support-in-kind input
Highlighting and amplifying our city’s amazing cultural producers, artists, organisations, and movers & shakers through the Maker in Focus feature
Sharing cultural news and opportunities through our monthly newsletter, as well as our Facebook and Instagram social pages
Collaborating with partners (including Exeter City Council, and the Devon & Exeter Institution) to initiate, support and deliver hyper-local commissioning opportunities, such as the Trade & Exchange programme
Throughout, we have been supported by an Advisory Group, who have contributed their time, knowledge and expertise. We would like to thank the following people for their contribution over the years:
Paul Batterham, Laurence Blyth, Richard Cohen, Emily Davies, Patricia Dixon, Emma Dunn, Lara Goodband, Alix Harris, Nikki Sved, Emily Macauley, Oli Raud, John Sealey, Amy Shelton, Rachel Sutton, Pippa Warin and Bee Watson. Plus the people who acted as observers and critical friends: Rob Bosworth, Sarah Campbell, Sophie Constant, JP Hedge, Brigid Howarth, Ann Hunter and Ceri Johnson.
We want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support over the years.
And to thank the University for hosting the programme and past funders including Arts Council England, Exeter City Council and the University who all invested into the programme until 2024.
