Music and culture
Music, theatre and art are an important part of life at the University of Exeter and there are plenty of opportunities to see plays, films, musicals and concerts, ranging from pop to classical. The Streatham Campus has a new music building that supports further opportunities in all musical genres and makes the music experience at Exeter genuinely first class.
Art
The University has almost 1,000 important and diverse artworks, worth over £2 million and exhibitions by local artists are regularly held on the Streatham Campus. The University’s podcast sculpture walk is a great way to see the Streatham Campus accompanied by expert commentary – there are 25 sculptures set both in the open and in University buildings, including works by Barbara Hepworth and Peter Randall-Page. For details visit the Fine Art Collection website and the Sculpture Walk. There are also regular, free history of art and music lectures held throughout the year at lunchtimes on campus for all students and staff.
Music
The University has a very lively music scene and provides the venues for many gigs at both the Streatham and Cornwall campuses (see Entertainment) as well as hosting classical concerts by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra who perform throughout the year at the Streatham Campus. Distinguished chamber groups and soloists also visit regularly. There are also plenty of opportunities to join ensembles, attend concerts, recitals and lectures, and continue instrumental and vocal tuition as well as learn how to conduct.
Student music societies
There are many student music societies at Exeter including bands and DJs, a Gilbert and Sullivan society, two orchestras, concert band, jazz orchestra and a wide variety of choirs. Footlights, folk music, dance societies, bell-ringing, jazz septets and a clarinet choir complete the current list, with new societies and small ensembles forming every year. An introduction to all the music at Exeter is provided in Music Week, an optional residential week before Welcome Week in September. For further information please see the Music website.
At the Cornwall Campus, the Music Society incorporates a jazz band, orchestra, string ensemble, flute choir and woodwind ensemble who rehearse regularly and perform at campus events and at venues and events in the local area. There is also a separate Tremough Choir who meet and perform regularly. The choir covers a range of genres including jazz, musical theatre, classical, world, gospel and a cappella (singing unaccompanied) and students of all abilities are welcomed.
Music Scholarships are also available and full details can be found on our Music Scholarships page.
Culture
The Streatham Campus is home to the Exeter Northcott Theatre, the city’s professional repertory theatre. The theatre also hosts touring companies and amateur productions including ones from the University’s Footlights, Exeter Theatre Company and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Details can be found on the Northcott Theatre website. If you enjoy performing yourself or have always wanted the opportunity to act or get involved with set or costume design, there are student societies waiting to hear from you.
For students at the Cornwall Campus, Falmouth is central to Cornwall’s thriving creative scene, with many galleries and studios. In addition to the on-campus venue, The Stannary, the Eden Project near St Austell hosts the Eden Sessions, Princess Pavilion hosts nationally-known and local musicians and many bars and pubs around the town also feature live music.
The Performance Centre on campus provides purpose-built facilities for both student use and visiting performers and there’s also a cinema on campus. In Falmouth itself there’s the five screen Phoenix Cinema, along with The Poly (previously The Arts Centre) which offers film, theatre and events too. Truro’s Hall for Cornwall hosts national music, comedy, dance and theatre tours and the Students’ Union, FXU, organises regular trips to local theatres. Further afield, whether it’s contemporary art at Tate St Ives, Penzance and Newlyn’s many (large and small) galleries, performances on the cliff-edge at the Minack Theatre or regular – and reliably groundbreaking – shows by Cornwall’s internationally-renowned KneeHigh Theatre, you’ll find a wealth of opportunities to feed your creative side.
