Exeter Phoenix Creative Hub

Sarah is a practising ceramics and fine artist and is a regular tutor at Exeter Phoenix. Observation of human and natural form (in both 2D and 3D media) has remained central to her interests. 🎨

Sarah focuses on learning ‘ways to see’ that are key for expressing the world of form around us, and on sharing skills and techniques in an informal atmosphere, which bring out the best creative ideas.

We chatted with Sarah to find out more about her practice and what she enjoys most about teaching classes here. 🖌

You can read the full Q&A in the September edition of the Creative Hub publication at exeterphoenix.org.uk/creative-hub/publication/

Kaleidoscopic Minds: Festival of Neurodiversity is returning for its second year this September. The event is designed by and for neurodivergent people and their families. We chatted to event organiser Emily Way-Evans to find out what she is looking forward to this year and what she has learnt along the way. 🌈

🔗 Click the link in our bio to read the full interview

To celebrate the 20th year of Exeter Contemporary Open, we're catch up with artists who's work has been shown at the exhibition.

This time we chatted to sculpture, video and installation artist , who's work won the ECO Audience Choice Award in 2025.

‘The team took such great care of our work, and I really appreciated the consideration given to us as artists. It was a fabulous atmosphere and a wonderful experience.’

You can read the full Q&A at exeterphoenix.org.uk/exeter-contemporary-open-in-review-kenji-lim/

📷 Photography by Dom Moore

Exeter Phoenix Scratch Night in collaboration with Exeter Northcott

Applications close: Mon 26 Oct

Performance date: Tue 01 Dec at Exeter Phoenix

Exeter Phoenix Scratch Night in collaboration with offers South West based artists in need of an audience a chance to stretch their ideas and the opportunity to test their work in the Exeter Phoenix Auditorium, along with £150 to help develop their idea and a small amount of rehearsal space before the Scratch Night. 🎭

Find out more and apply at exeterphoenix.org.uk/creative-hub/creative-opportunities/

Our September Creative Hub publication is now live and available to read on our website 📰

In this month's edition, we have:

🌈 An interview with , the organisers of Kaleidoscopic Minds: Festival of Neurodiversity

🎨 A discussion with art tutor Sarah John, who leads classes at Exeter Phoenix

🪗 A Q&A with

🖼 20 Years of Exeter Contemporary Open: Nicola Bealing in conversation

Plus upcoming creative opportunities and events! You can read the full publication at exeterphoenix.org.uk/creative-hub/publication/

Community Programme Exhibition: 100 Languages Celebrating Creativity, Collaboration and Young People’s Voices Harbour House

Exhibition Opening Celebration: Fri 9 Oct 2026, 6pm - 8pm, Harbour House Gallery

Exhibition: Sat 10 Oct - Sat 21 Nov 2026, Tues - Sat, 10am - 5pm, Harbour House Gallery

This October, Harbour House presents 100 Languages, an exhibition celebrating the creativity, imagination and ideas of local children and young people.

Bringing together work created through Harbour House’s community engagement programmes, the exhibition showcases projects developed by young people alongside artists Erika Cann, Llyr Davies and Sam Machell. From cyanotype reefs and clay creatures to imagined islands, murals and collaborative sculptures. The work demonstrates what can happen when young people are given the space and freedom to create together.

Inspired by educator Loris Malaguzzi’s belief that children can express themselves through ‘a hundred languages’, the exhibition celebrates the many ways young people communicate, experiment and make sense of the world - through drawing, movement, play, storytelling, making and imagination.

At the heart of 100 Languages is collaboration. Rather than simply taking part in artist-led activities, young people have helped shape the projects, bringing their own ideas, humour and perspectives to the creative process. The resulting works are playful, unexpected and often wonderfully strange - reflecting the value of giving children permission to experiment without getting things ‘right’.

Eastbenders Casting Call

Deadline Sun 13 Sep

EastBenders is coming to Exeter - and are looking for 2–3 cabaret and/or drag artists to join the cast!

EastBenders takes the campest, loudest and silliest moments from EastEnders and throws them into a chaotic drag cabaret.

Think Albert Square meets the drag stage - iconic characters, outrageous comedy, big personalities, drama, audience interaction and plenty of Queen Vic chaos.

The company are looking for performers who can embrace the ridiculous and aren’t afraid to go BIG.

You might be an actor, drag artist, cabaret performer, comedian or some combination of all of the above.

Desired skills:

● Strong character and comedy skills

● Big stage presence

● Confidence with improvisation and audience interaction

● A love for iconic characters

● The ability to embrace camp, chaos and parody

You don’t need to be a traditional actor - but have some drag or cabaret experience. Ideally you are part of the LGBTQ+ community. We are also particularly looking for disabled, POC and trans performers.

This is a paid role with a fee of £150. Performance will be at Exeter Phoenix on Friday 16 October 2026 as part of Out There Fringe Fest.

Apply now at www.outthere.org.uk/eastbenders

Make Space - Open Call

Applications close 10pm, Mon 14 Sep

Make Space unlocks spaces within arts organisations for artists to set up, test and reflect on their work.

Through Make Space, artists can apply for space in partner organisations for focused periods of time. For the 2026 pilot, our partners are in Plymouth and in Bristol.

Many artists in the region either don’t have a studio, or don’t have adequate space to install work in a way which allows them to step back, critically review progress, document work professionally, and invite feedback from peers. Make Space responds directly to the identified needs of their network, and is informed by our Artists and Arts Workers Survey and Creative Conversations hosted by Plymouth Culture.

Find out more at vasw.org.uk/opportunities/make-space-pilot-open-call

Exeter Phoenix Camera Group meet up every month for inspiration and discussion. 📷

In this exhibition, their images reflect their interest in the diverse experience of the Quay, covering the history, wildlife and people.

South West Dance Hub and Swift Dance company are an inspirational place for dancers, movers, makers & artists to connect & collaborate that have been working at Exeter Phoenix for over five years.

In our new guest blog, the team from SWDH discuss the history of the group, as well as their show Threads, which is coming to Exeter Phoenix on Mon 21 Sep. 🧵

‘The seed was initially sown in response to a growing need for an inspirational and nurturing space which would allow dance artists, movers & makers to share, learn, grow, support and be supported within our practices.’

‘We have worked with film-makers, sound artists, musicians, visual artists, costume designers, writers & physical theatre, and we hope to continue developing these rich cross cultural collaborations.’

🗞 You can read the full article at exeterphoenix.org.uk/south-west-dance-hub-swift-dance-co/