Exeter Observer contributors

Leigh Curtis

Leigh Curtis is membership co-ordinator and community & culture editor of Exeter Observer and a director of its publisher Exeter Observer Limited.

She writes most of our community and culture stories and manages our growing membership.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London, and leads on design and marketing as well as dealing with Exeter Observer’s financial and administrative management including member meetings.

Recent headlines
Recent headlines
Wonford Community Wellbeing Hub option seven plan crop

£1+ million for Wonford community hub project development but £7 million build finance not yet found

Proposed Heavitree Road bus lane bus priority signals

Bus corridor consultation presents more incremental changes to Exeter road network

Southgate development site heritage map

Secretary of State overturns council decision to waive Southgate site Environmental Impact Assessment

Devon County Council 2023-24 vs 2024-25 service delivery budgets bar graph

£50 million county council 2024-25 service delivery cuts concealed by £93 million costs increases

Stagecoach subsidiary operating companies 2022-23 pre-tax profits bar chart

Stagecoach South West posts largest losses in sector despite greatest growth in journey numbers

Liveable Exeter Placemaking Charter cover image

Liveable Exeter Placemaking Charter consultation skewed towards only one of five 'core tools'

Stories with Leigh Curtis
Wonford Community Wellbeing Hub option seven plan crop

ANALYSIS  ⁄  COMMUNITY & SOCIETY

£1+ million for Wonford community hub project development but £7 million build finance not yet found

City council presented £750,000 'feasibility proposal' as progression of existing plans despite having to start again after three years to cut costs, with Exeter City Living awarded £550,000 project contract.

Proposed Heavitree Road bus lane bus priority signals

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY  ⁄  NEWS

Bus corridor consultation presents more incremental changes to Exeter road network

£2.4 million Heavitree and Pinhoe Road 'upgrades' have 'potential for an approximate four-minute journey time saving' at peak times along length of each corridor.

FRIDAY 12 APRIL 2024

St Petrock's Big Night Out

Exeter homelessness charity invites people to sleep out under the stars, or in another safe location, to help raise money for rough sleepers.

FRIDAY 5 TO SUNDAY 7 APRIL 2024

Topsham Music Festival

Three day event features instrumental music by upcoming professional solo and chamber ensemble artists.

TOPSHAM

Devon County Council 2023-24 vs 2024-25 service delivery budgets bar graph

ANALYSIS  ⁄  DEMOCRACY & GOVERNANCE

£50 million county council 2024-25 service delivery cuts concealed by £93 million costs increases

Figures essentially unaffected by budget scrutiny process during which councillors sought details of where and how cuts would fall but received few proper answers.

SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2024

Brillsville Market returns

Community-run market launches 2024 season with goods from local producers, workshops and more.

ST THOMAS

SATURDAY 23 MARCH 2024

Library Lates returns

An evening of live music, creative workshops and games.

EXETER LIBRARY

Spruce Close & Celia Crescent development aerial view

NEWS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

City council approves plans for controversial greenfield site housing

Key details remain unresolved including future ownership and management of green space and public access restrictions during construction period.

SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2024

International Women's Festival 2024

A free one-day festival celebrating women with live music, workshops, panel discussions, art and more.

EXETER PHOENIX

WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2024

PRISM Exeter speakers series returns

LGBTQIA+ researchers share their experiences working in STEMM as part of this year's LGBT+ History Month.

EXETER LIBRARY

THURSDAY 8 & FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2024

Two Short Nights

A short film festival showcasing local, national and international talent with a panel discussion, awards ceremony and more.

EXETER PHOENIX

WEDNESDAY 31 JANUARY TO SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2024

What If ...?

A festival of children's stories hosted by Theatre Alibi featuring performances and interactive workshops.

EMMANUEL HALL

SATURDAY 3 & SUNDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2024

Dogs Don't Do Ballet

A puppetry and music performance for children aged two and above.

EMMANUEL HALL

FRIDAY 19 JANUARY 2024

The Sidwell Street wassail

An evening wassail with music, singing and free hot soup.

ST SIDWELL'S COMMUNITY CENTRE

Devon electric vehicle charging strategy cover

ANALYSIS  ⁄  TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

Devon County Council adopts charging strategy that provides for only 20% of EVs it expects by 2030

Local ULEV ownership has risen rapidly in recent years but many more vehicles have joined county's roads as local transport area ULEV growth lags behind rest of country and Exeter motor vehicle numbers alone top 87,000.

SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2024

Isca Ensemble chamber orchestral concert

An evening of Hadyn, Bach and Mozart with violin, viola and oboe soloists.

ST DAVID'S CHURCH

TUESDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2024

George Oliver, forgotten Exeter humanitarian

A fundraising talk about the priest, historian and author who lived in the priory in the 19th century.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

TUESDAY 30 & WEDNESDAY 31 JANUARY 2024

Igloo by Travelling Light

Interactive and non-verbal performances for children aged 0-3 years.

EMMANUEL HALL

3D view of revised development proposal

NEWS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

Student landlord submits new plans for Union Road HMO back garden block following appeal failure

Application for six bedroom, single storey purpose built student accommodation block made on site of refused ten bedroom, two storey scheme in garden of thirteen bedroom shared student house.

Royal Devon and Exeter hospital at Wonford

NEWS  ⁄  COMMUNITY & SOCIETY

Junior doctors stage industrial action either side of Christmas in longest strike in NHS history

Latest round of strikes are eighth walkout by junior doctors in eighteen month national dispute over pay and employment conditions with government.

Peninsula Transport Strategy front cover

NEWS  ⁄  TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

Regional transport infrastructure strategy published for public consultation

Framework seeks to draw together major evidence base assembled over several years to address key challenges to 2050 including integration of walking and cycling with local bus and rail network and freight decarbonisation.

FRIDAY 5 & SATURDAY 6 JANUARY 2024

Twelfth Night candlelit concerts

Pianist Alex Wilson plays traditional music from across Europe at Christmastime.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

SUNDAY 31 DECEMBER 2023

Exeter Phoenix NYE

A silver, sparkly mirror ball-themed New Year's Eve celebration to welcome in 2024.

EXETER PHOENIX

Old bus and coach station demolition plan

NEWS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

Old Exeter bus and coach station to be demolished five and a half years after closure

Bristol-based Wring Group appointed as contractor by city council to demolish building to slab level but not to remove foundations, leaving rest of CityPoint site untouched.

Clarendon House student accommodation proposals illustrative view - front

NEWS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

Developers seek feedback on replacement of Clarendon House with student accommodation

350-bed block up to sixteen storeys tall proposed on site of underutilised offices on corner of Western Way and Heavitree Road.

SUNDAY 31 DECEMBER 2023

New Year's Eve concert

A celebration with flautist trio Flute Cake.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2023

Viennese Christmas Spectacular

An evening of classical music by candlelight performed by chamber ensemble London Concertante.

EXETER CATHEDRAL

THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER 2023

Fore Street festive celebration

Independent traders host a late night shopping event including Sacred Grounds Winter Fayre and Bookbag's third birthday party.

FORE STREET

TUESDAY 5 TO SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER 2023

Christmas at the Custom House

A series of festive events including craft workshops, midwinter poetry and a performance by a local choir.

EXETER CUSTOM HOUSE

St Petrocks homelessness charity Christmas appeal 2023

NEWS  ⁄  COMMUNITY & SOCIETY

St Petrock's Christmas appeal to raise funds to support its work with rough sleepers

Exeter homelessness charity's fundraising campaign features short film exploring how it feels to be homeless.

MONDAY 18 DECEMBER 2023

Spork! Christmas special returns

Spork! presents poetry, comedy and live music from Elvis McGonagall, Josie Alford and BopaRhys, with carols from the Exeter Railway Band.

EXETER PHOENIX

SUNDAY 17 TO THURSDAY 28 DECEMBER 2023

Five Children & It

Quirk Theatre presents a festive family-friendly adventure about a magical creature that grants wishes.

EXETER PHOENIX

SATURDAY 2 & SUNDAY 3 DECEMBER 2023

A Tudor Christmas

A sixteenth century merchant's yule re-enacted in Exeter's oldest building.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

SUNDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2023

Sunday at Studio 36

An open day at the Denmark Road arts space including live music, refreshments and arts and crafts for sale.

STUDIO 36

SATURDAY 9 DECEMBER 2023

An English History of Christmas

Joe Levy and Peter Adcock perform Christmas music from the medieval to the modern.

EMMANUEL HALL

SATURDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2023

St Thomas winter market

Community-run event returns with artisan traders, music, entertainment and workshops to create a family-friendly festival atmosphere.

ST THOMAS CHURCH

THURSDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2023

Reclaim the Night 2023

A protest against sexual violence and harassment of women and girls in public space.

EXETER CITY CENTRE

, updated

MONDAY 13 TO THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2023

The Big Exeter Feast

A ten day programme of field trips, talks, workshops and a conference exploring how food can be accessible, affordable and sustainable in Exeter.

EXETER COMMUNITY CENTRE

TUESDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2023

PRISM Exeter speakers event

Academic researchers share their experiences as part of this year's LGBTQ+ STEM Day.

EXETER LIBRARY

SUNDAY 3 DECEMBER 2023

Exeter Seed Bank seed packing

A pair of seed-packing workshops to prepare for distribution next spring.

EXETER PHOENIX

SUNDAY 29 OCTOBER 2023

Kidical Mass - Halloween special

Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its sixth family bike ride as part of an ongoing campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families.

BELMONT PARK

SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER 2023

Isca Ensemble celebration concert

An evening of classical music celebrating the life of Joanna Leach with soloist Ben Goldscheider in aid of local charity Hospicare.

EXETER CATHEDRAL

THURSDAY 26 OCTOBER 2023

Rock Against Extinction

An evening of music, poetry and more in aid of Exeter Climate Action Hub.

EXETER PHOENIX

TUESDAY 31 OCTOBER TO SATURDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2023

An Audience with a Ghost Hunter

An immersive after dark theatre experience in Exeter's oldest building.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

SUNDAY 29 OCTOBER 2023

Spork! Dead Poets Slam

An October spoken-word poetry special featuring poet and slam champion Rick Dove.

EXETER PHOENIX

TUESDAY 10 TO SUNDAY 22 OCTOBER 2023

Food on Film autumn season

The programme exploring our relationship with food continues with documentary and narrative film screenings and a visit to Exeter Growers Co-operative.

EXETER PHOENIX

FRIDAY 6 & SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER 2023

Squeeze Box

An immersive installation for and about the disabled experience.

MAKETANK

SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2023

Salmon Run 2023

Three runs along the River Exe to highlight the significance of salmon and the species' relationship with the waterway.

RIVER EXE

WEDNESDAY 13 TO SATURDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2023

CROW Show: Light

Paintings, prints, sculpture and ceramic and textile works by members of the Creative Older Women art collective.

MAKETANK

, updated

SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2023

Kidical Mass returns

Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its fifth family bike ride and picnic as part of an ongoing campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families.

SOUTHERNHAY

SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 2023

Exeter Street Arts Festival 2023

The annual festival returns with street theatre and performance, interactive workshops, walkabouts and live music.

EXETER CITY CENTRE

SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 2023

Ukrainian Yarmarok

A celebration of Ukrainian independence with a traditional fair featuring food, music, dance and crafts.

MAKETANK

FRIDAY 8 TO MONDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2023

The Real Onedin Line Redux

Art Work Exeter presents an exploration of Exeter's quayside including the restaging of scenes from a 1970s BBC drama filmed on location at the quay.

EXETER QUAY

WEDNESDAY 6 TO SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2023

Climate exhibition 2023

Exeter Science Centre presents talks, activities and virtual reality experiences focussed on climate modelling.

MAKETANK

SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2023

Exeter tomato festival

Seed Bank celebration includes a blind taste test, workshops, music, face painting and a tomato-based lunch.

DAILY BOWL

THURSDAY 10 AUGUST 2023

Hero & Leander

Six multi-instrumentalists tell the story of the stranded lovers through folk and indie songs, choral music and sea shanties.

NORTHERNHAY GARDENS

SATURDAY 12 AUGUST 2023

Out of the Deep Blue

Outdoor shows that combine dance, movement and puppetry to explore the climate and biodiversity crises.

NORTHERNHAY GARDENS

FRIDAY 11 AUGUST 2023

Spork! summer special

An evening of al fresco spoken-word comedy and poetry with Jonny Fluffypunk, Jackie Juno, Just Some Guy and Muneera Pilgrim.

NORTHERNHAY GARDENS

MONDAY 17 TO SATURDAY 29 JULY 2023

Radiance, Rubrics and Rituals: So We Are Held

Sapphire Blue Collective artists present an exhibition of their work.

MAKETANK

TUESDAY 25 JULY 2023

Food on Film presents Meat the Future

A documentary about sustainably cultured meat plus panel discussion.

EXETER PHOENIX

TUESDAY 11 JULY 2023

Food on Film presents Food for Thought

A documentary about meat and dairy farming in Cornwall with plant-based food tasting and panel discussion.

EXETER PHOENIX

SATURDAY 15 JULY 2023

Music in the Library with the Belshaw Band

An evening of original composition from Simon Belshaw and his band.

EXETER LIBRARY

SATURDAY 5 AUGUST 2023

Phonic Fest 2023

Exeter Phoenix is hosting a day of live music from local artists plus DJs to raise money for Phonic FM, Exeter's community radio station.

EXETER PHOENIX

SATURDAY 17 TO SATURDAY 24 JUNE 2023

Refugee Week 2023

Refugee Support Devon & Exeter Phoenix present a day of arts and crafts, live music and food plus two film screenings.

EXETER QUAY & EXETER PHOENIX

Representatives of SEND Parents and Carers for Change standing in front of County Hall

NEWS  ⁄  COMMUNITY & SOCIETY

SEND children's services still 'failing to deliver improved outcomes for children and young people'

Devon County Council says change is underway but parents say problems remain unresolved, not enough is being done and their views are being ignored.

SATURDAY 10 TO SUNDAY 18 JUNE 2023

Great Big Green Week

A film screening with Q&A, plant swap, climate cafe, litterpick, open mic night, repair cafe, wildflower seed ball workshop and more.

EXETER CLIMATE ACTION HUB

FRIDAY 16 JUNE 2023

Culture for Climate open mic summer edition

An evening of climate-themed poetry, music and readings as part of Big Green Week.

EXETER CLIMATE ACTION HUB

SATURDAY 13 MAY 2023

Rainbow Fayre

Exeter Phoenix and Exeter Pride present a one-day celebration featuring live music, performance, stalls, food and the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.

EXETER PHOENIX

SATURDAY 10 & SUNDAY 11 JUNE 2023

Exeter Respect Festival 2023

Exeter Respect Festival returns for its 26th year with live music and performance, food stalls, campaigners and community groups.

BELMONT PARK

SATURDAY 22 & SUNDAY 23 APRIL 2023

The Great Imagining

A weekend of science, craft, poetry and film to coincide with Earth Day 2023.

EXETER CLIMATE ACTION HUB

SUNDAY 23 APRIL 2023

Kurdish Screen presents The Exam

A feature film by Iraqi Kurdish director Shawkat Amin Korki that depicts a high school student struggling to avoid being forced into an arranged marriage.

EXETER PHOENIX

CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

Exeter climate activists subvertise bus shelters with satirical newspaper front pages

City centre posters promoting 'The Big One', a mass gathering in Parliament Square on 21 April expected to begin four days of climate action in Westminster involving 100,000 people.

SATURDAY 29 APRIL 2023

Not Saints and Together open mic night

A free evening of music, poetry and comedy in an inclusive, safe and sober space.

SIDWELL STREET BAKEHOUSE

WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE 2023

How can Exeter Observer help our city to thrive?

Come along to one of our informal events and share your ideas on how we might grow the independent journalism Exeter needs.

ST SIDWELL'S COMMUNITY CENTRE

SUNDAY 16 APRIL 2023

Ukrainian Easter

A Ukrainian Orthodox Easter celebration with art and craft activities, Pysanky egg decoration and traditional song.

MAKETANK

FRIDAY 31 MARCH 2023

Act Together community talk

A discussion led by University of Exeter climate scientist James Dyke on tackling the climate crisis.

EXETER COMMUNITY CENTRE

TUESDAY 21 MARCH 2023

Earthquake appeal concert

Kurdish Community Devon hosts an evening of music as an act of resilience to raise money for earthquake victims.

EXETER PHOENIX

FRIDAY 31 MARCH 2023

Library Late

An evening of live music, creative workshops and a tour of Exeter Library's hidden corners.

EXETER LIBRARY

SATURDAY 11 MARCH 2023

International Women's Festival

A free one day festival celebrating women with live music, dance, poetry, talks, art, food and more.

EXETER PHOENIX

SATURDAY 11 MARCH 2023

Culture for Climate open mic night

Extinction Rebellion Exeter hosts an evening of climate-themed poetry, music and readings.

EXETER CLIMATE ACTION HUB

SATURDAY 4 MARCH 2023

Climate Fresk

An interactive workshop explaining the science behind climate change.

EXETER CLIMATE ACTION HUB

THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2023

Compline - A contemplative journey through Lent

Performances of plainchant and polyphony with prayers at St Olave's church.

ST OLAVE'S CHURCH

WEDNESDAY 1 MARCH 2023

Mothers on the Mic by Mothers Who Make

An inclusive daytime open mic event for adults and children with new music by local mothers and others.

MAKETANK

FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2023

Spork! Worst Poet Wins

A poetry slam with a twist hosted by Locally Sourced and Edward Tripp.

SIDWELL STREET BAKEHOUSE

Special educational needs and disabilities protesters at County Hall

NEWS  ⁄  COMMUNITY & SOCIETY

Devon County Council charged with 'relentless institutional failings' in SEND children's services provision

Children with special educational needs and disabilities protest alongside parents at County Hall as Ofsted monitoring continues to find serious unresolved issues and key areas that require significant change.

TUESDAY 14 MARCH 2023

The Forgotten Quarter

An evening talk exploring the Mint Lane area between the first and second world wars.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2023

Phonic FM 15th birthday party

Exeter's community radio station celebrates fifteen years of broadcasting with an evening of live music and DJs.

EXETER PHOENIX

FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2023

The Oil Machine

A free film screening and panel discussion with Dr James Dyke

EXETER CLIMATE ACTION HUB

, updated

MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2023

PRISM Exeter speakers series

LGBTQIA+ people share their experiences working in STEMM as part of this year's LGBT+ History Month.

EXETER LIBRARY

SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2023

Instructions2LiveBy

An interactive Preston Street Union event invites participants to seek out wise words and helpful hints in fact and fiction.

EXETER LIBRARY

Devon County Council headquarters at County Hall

NEWS  ⁄  DEMOCRACY & GOVERNANCE

Underperforming county council children's services to receive nearly half of proposed spending increases

Details of simultaneous £50 million 2023-24 spending reductions not yet published as finance director cites service delivery 're-prioritisation'.

SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2023

Seed Bank seed swap

Inaugural event also features talks on composting, fermentation and reducing kitchen waste with stalls, displays and activities.

MAKETANK

MONDAY 23 JANUARY 2023

Until Tomorrow

A new play about three parent carers based on academic research by Dr Siobhan O'Dwyer.

EXETER PHOENIX

SUNDAY 22 JANUARY 2023

Flow Orchard wassail

Traditional music and song, story and celebration with apple juice and cider round an open fire.

TREWS WEIR ORCHARD

TUESDAY 10 JANUARY 2023

Extinction Rebellion 100 days campaign

Exeter event is first step towards April gathering of 100,000 people in Parliament Square.

EXETER CLIMATE ACTION HUB

Striking nurses at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital

NEWS  ⁄  COMMUNITY & SOCIETY

Historic nurses strike goes ahead after government refuses to negotiate over pay

Royal College of Nursing members out in force at Exeter NHS trusts alongside colleagues across the country as recruitment crisis threatens profession.

FRIDAY 13 JANUARY 2023

From Townhouse to Tenements

An evening talk and tour with performances explores the 19th century history of Exeter's oldest building.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

University of Exeter full-time academic staff salary distribution 2020-21

ANALYSIS  ⁄  COMMUNITY & SOCIETY

University of Exeter lags behind on female pay and employment terms

HESA figures show poor performance compared with Universities UK members and only incremental changes over past five years, mostly since staff began industrial action over pay, pensions and working conditions.

University of Exeter Streatham campus picket line

NEWS  ⁄  COMMUNITY & SOCIETY

University of Exeter staff strike in largest walkout in sector history

Dispute over pay, pensions and working conditions continues as universities generate record income.

WEDNESDAY 14 DECEMBER 2022

Spork! Christmas special

Spork! presents poetry, comedy and live music from Joelle Taylor, Luke Wright, BopaRhys and friends, with carols from the Exeter Railway Band.

EXETER PHOENIX

SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2023

Seed Bank workshops

Monthly sessions preparing seeds for the first ever Exeter Seed Bank seed swap.

EXETER PHOENIX

FRIDAY 6 JANUARY 2023

Concerts by candlelight

Pianist Alex Wilson plays traditional festive music from around the world at Christmastime.

ST DISEN'S & ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

THURSDAY 8 TO SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER 2022

Weird Women

Exeter Drama Company presents an original play about three sisters who share a dark secret.

LONGDOWN VILLAGE HALL

THURSDAY 1 DECEMBER 2022

Sourdough bread-making and shaping

St Sidwell's Community Centre is running a winter evening sourdough and rye bread-making class.

SIDWELL STREET BAKEHOUSE

Reclaim the Night protest in Bedford Street

NEWS  ⁄  COMMUNITY & SOCIETY

Reclaim the Night protest against sexual violence and harassment of women and girls in public space

Exeter event takes place after survey finding that 85% felt unsafe or very unsafe when walking alone in city centre at night, with police figures showing violent and sexual offences exceed 35% of all recorded crime in city.

SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER 2022

St Leonard's Christmas Fair

Community-run market returns for eleventh year with festive food, music and gifts.

MAGDALEN ROAD

Exeter Climate Action Hub

NEWS  ⁄  CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

Climate Action Hub opens in Exeter city centre

A dedicated climate crisis information and resource centre is opening on 25 November in an empty Princesshay retail unit to provide events, meeting space, film screenings and drop-in advice and support.

SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2022

Greenpeace town hall

Greenpeace Exeter is screening a short film and hosting a discussion on the cost of living and climate crises.

EXETER COMMUNITY CENTRE

SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2022

Spork Up! with Bohdan Piasecki

Spork! is holding an afternoon workshop and evening performance showcasing local spoken word talent.

EXETER PHOENIX

SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2022

Mapping our Exeter

A free Being Human festival event exploring historic maps of Exeter and inviting contributions to a new digital map of the city.

DEVON & EXETER INSTITUTION

SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2022

St Thomas winter market returns

Community-run event combines artisan traders with music, entertainment and workshops to create family-friendly festival atmosphere.

ST THOMAS CHURCH

FRIDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2022

Mothers on the Mic

Mothers Who Make is holding an inclusive daytime open mic event for adults and children featuring new music written by local mothers and others.

EXETER LIBRARY

WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2022

Refugee Support Devon fundraiser

Luca Rossi, Trikkeballakke and La Tarantella perform Southern Italian music and dance in aid of Refugee Support Devon.

EXETER PHOENIX

Illustrative ground floor plan

ANALYSIS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

Heavitree Road developer gets sixth pitch for student/co-living complex

Eight design iterations, six council meetings, four consultation rounds and two deferrals combine to impede public participation in planning process on key Liveable Exeter site and increase chances of decision being overturned at appeal.

SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER 2022

Kidical Mass Halloween special

Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its fourth family bike ride as part of an ongoing campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families.

NORTHERNHAY GARDENS

THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2022

Sourdough pizza and pitta-making by night

St Sidwell's Community Centre is running autumn evening sourdough bread-making classes.

SIDWELL STREET BAKEHOUSE

Computer generated aerial view of proposed development from south

ANALYSIS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

Flood risk threatens to sink Haven Banks redevelopment plans

Proposals for 434 rental units accommodating up to 1,167 people on 1.7 hectare Liveable Exeter site would deliver extreme housing densities that deny amenity to prospective occupants while inflicting significant impacts on existing residents.

SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER 2022

March of the Mummies

Campaigning charity Pregnant Then Screwed is holding a national Halloween-themed childcare protest march.

COUNTY HALL

THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER 2022

Black History Month pottery, poetry and song

Ceramicist Lili John and Devon Development Education are hosting a celebration of the life of 19th century potter, poet and slave David Drake.

EXETER COMMUNITY CENTRE

TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER 2022

Spork! October special

Spork! presents an evening of spoken-word comedy and poetry with Kevin P. Gilday and multiple slam champion Kathryn O'Driscoll.

EXETER PHOENIX

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER 2022

Spork! open mic night

Headliner Charice Bharwaj leads an evening of spoken word entertainment.

LITTLE DROP OF POISON

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER 2022

Sourdough bread-making by night

St Sidwell's Community Centre is running autumn evening sourdough pizza and pitta-making classes.

SIDWELL STREET BAKEHOUSE

SUNDAY 2 OCTOBER 2022

Herbal history, folklore & medicine

Exeter Seed Bank is holding a workshop exploring common local herbs and plants with medical herbalist Ile Ashcroft.

EXETER PHOENIX

FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER & SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER 2022

Pop-up curiosity shop

Agile Rabbit is hosting a two day science and culture-themed event featuring music, live art, interactive exhibits and games, talks and workshops.

MAKETANK

WEDNESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2022

Mother Tongue

Mothers Who Make and Spork! present a lunchtime spoken word event for mother artists and audiences with caring roles.

MAKETANK

SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2022

Kidical Mass is back

Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its third family bike ride and picnic as part of an ongoing campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families.

NORTHERNHAY GARDENS

SATURDAY 30 JULY 2022

Sidwella day celebration

Devon Voice Group is co-hosting a celebration of Exeter's patron saint, the city's heritage and Devonian culture and dialect.

ST SIDWELL'S COMMUNITY CENTRE

SATURDAY 30 JULY 2022

Phonic Fest 2022

Exeter Phoenix is hosting a day of live music from local artists plus DJs to raise money for Phonic FM, Exeter's community radio station.

EXETER PHOENIX

SATURDAY 9 JULY 2022

Kidical Mass returns to Exeter in July

Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its second family bike ride and picnic as part of an ongoing global campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families.

BELMONT PARK

MONDAY 27 JUNE 2022

PRISM Exeter Pride month queer science celebration

Devon network champions LGBTQIA+ STEMM contributors and the impact they have had on young people in queer science competition.

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

Magdalen Road public consultation results option preferences bar chart

ANALYSIS  ⁄  TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

£900,000 to keep Magdalen Road one-way system despite decisive public support for low traffic street

County council misrepresented and omitted key public consultation findings in report and did not publish results until after decision taken in favour of option with only 18% public support. Exeter Observer snapshot survey finds 90%+ motor vehicles passing shops are through traffic.

SUNDAY 5 JUNE 2022

The Big Spork! Poetry Picnic

Spork! is holding an interactive family-friendly indoor poetry and music workshop on picnic blankets.

EXETER PHOENIX

TUESDAY 24 MAY 2022

The Shadow: a Devon for Ukraine fundraiser

Soviet playwright Evgengy Schwartz' poetic and philosophical retelling of a Hans Christian Anderson tale is a subversive fable about choices we make for social and political gain and for love.

MAKETANK

SUNDAY 24 JULY 2022

Cast A Sheep's Eye: 16th and 17th century love songs

Joe Levy and Konstantinos Terzakis perform Renaissance and Baroque music by Purcell, Dowland, Morley and others in a series of concerts in historic buildings.

ST LAWRENCE CHAPEL

SUNDAY 26 JUNE 2022

Sound Walks with Emma Welton

Musician and sound artist Emma Welton is leading a series of Sunday afternoon sound walks as part of Exeter Dream Festival.

CYGNET THEATRE

SATURDAY 21 MAY 2022

Marsyas Quartet: Dreaming in Sound

Marsyas Quartet plays music by Mozart, Bach, Andrew M. Wilson, Judith Weir and Sungji Hong as part of The New Season Series and Exeter Dream Festival.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

SUNDAY 15 MAY 2022

Kidical Mass comes to Exeter

Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its first family bike ride and picnic as part of a global campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families.

BELMONT PARK

SATURDAY 11-SUNDAY 12 JUNE 2022

Exeter Respect Festival 2022

Exeter Respect Festival returns to Belmont Park for its 25th anniversary with live music and performance, food stalls, campaigners and community groups.

BELMONT PARK

, updated

SATURDAY 14 MAY 2022

Exeter Pride 2022

Exeter Pride returns for an in-person celebration of LGBTQIA+ diversity and visibility after moving online in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NORTHERNHAY GARDENS

SUNDAY 8 MAY 2022

Fore Street Flea

Fore Street Flea market returns for an Exeter Pride-themed special event.

FORE STREET

TUESDAY 19-SATURDAY 23 APRIL 2022

Turn Up The Volume at Green Phoenix

A week of climate crisis-focussed concerts, talks and training orchestrated by Music Declares Emergency with Climate EQ, A Quiet Night In and Music is Murder.

EXETER PHOENIX

FRIDAY 22 APRIL 2022

A Quiet Night In

The ensemble's thirteenth exploration of the creative possibilities of quiet contemporary music in quiet spaces will take place on Earth Day as part of a week of climate change awareness events.

EXETER PHOENIX

WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL 2022

Climate Science and Creativity

Quay Words' spring writer-in-residence Ellen Wiles hosts a discussion between Devon writers and scientists about the ways they address the climate crisis in their work.

EXETER CUSTOM HOUSE

SUNDAY 8 MAY 2022

Traditional Italian music and dance

Exeter Italian Cultural Association is holding a workshop exploring the folk traditions of Southern Italy in music, dance and song with Trikkeballakke and La Tarantella.

ST JAMES' CHURCH

Protestors hold Devon County Council stop funding fossil fuel companies banner in Bedford Square

ANALYSIS  ⁄  CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

County council doubles down on pension fund divestment position

Devon Pension Fund remains committed to fossil fuel investment despite increasingly untenable pension fund committee position that relies on unfounded shareholder influence claims and failure to understand sector position and plans.

CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

Exeter activists criticise corporate climate crisis claims with city centre bus shelter subvertising

As the 2021 United Nations climate change conference (COP26) begins in Glasgow, activists post parody bus shelter adverts aimed at corporate greenwashing in Exeter city centre.

CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

Exeter climate campaigners protest at £157 million Devon Pension Fund fossil fuel investment

Fridays for Future Exeter led a march through the city to County Hall where demonstrators called on Devon County Council to divest the local public sector pension scheme it manages from fossil fuels.

Extinction Rebellion climate activist Imogen May

NEWS  ⁄  CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

Environmental activist Imogen May defiant after second liability order for non-payment of council tax

Extinction Rebellion demonstrated at Exeter Law Courts in support of Crediton lone parent who has withheld council tax for two years in protest over government climate crisis inaction.

Empty retail units at The Depot Purpose Built Student Accommodation block on Cheeke Street in Exeter

NEWS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

Developer plans to convert retail units in Exeter city centre block to additional student bedrooms

Conversion of five of eleven shop/leisure units at The Depot in Cheeke Street would add nineteen rooms to existing 715 bedrooms in monolithic PBSA.

Train at Okehampton Station in 2015

NEWS  ⁄  TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

Okehampton to Exeter 'Dartmoor Line' passenger rail service reinstatement confirmed

£40 million Department for Transport 'Restoring your Railway' funding to enable trains every two hours by end of this year, with plans to increase to hourly service during 2022. Stakeholders combine to get South West infrastructure needs onto Whitehall agenda.

Exeter Princesshay Debenhams closing down sale

NEWS  ⁄  ARTS & CULTURE

Top floor of former Debenhams store to be converted into cinema

Princesshay owner's proposals for change of use to four screen cinema and cafe/bar have been under discussion since November 2019.

Clydesdale and Birks development illustrative view

NEWS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

University plans to demolish 30 buildings to construct ~50,000m2 of new student accommodation

Permission sought for 1,250 new bedrooms on fifteen acre Streatham campus Clydesdale and Birks development site, half as large again as 1,200 bedroom East Park development.

Longbrook Street student accommodation development site King Billy public house

NEWS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

Renewed permission sought for Longbrook Street student block

Developers are seeking to renew previously-granted planning permission for an eight storey 108-bed student accommodation block on the site of the King Billy public house.

Exeter Global Climate Strike Bedford Street crowd

NEWS  ⁄  CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

Thousands march in Exeter for global climate strike as millions mobilise worldwide

Fridays for Future Exeter led 3500 people on a climate crisis demonstration through the city backed by dozens of organisations on the eve of the UN Climate Action Summit in New York.

Preston Street Union present SERGE/SURGE at Cricklepit Mill

NEWS  ⁄  ARTS & CULTURE

Preston Street Union rolls out the red carpet

The Exeter-based artists explore migration driven by the city's historic wool trade in new work commissioned by RAMM.

SATURDAY 30 MARCH-SUNDAY 2 JUNE 2019

Extreme Imagination - Inside the Mind's Eye

University of Exeter research fellow Dr Matthew MacKisack guides us through a RAMM exhibition that explores works by artists, writers and makers with widely varying visual imaginations.

RAMM

Kaleider Mikrofest Our Dancing Shadows in Exeter Princesshay

NEWS  ⁄  ARTS & CULTURE

Out of sight, out of mind

An Exeter performance of From The Light of The Fire, Our Dancing Shadows for Kaleider Mikrofest appears to favour illusion over truth in a confused rendering of Plato's cave allegory that leaves both performers and audience in the dark.

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