20 Years of Exeter Contemporary Open
Published September 1, 2026
Artwork by SHARP from Exeter Contemporary Open 2024, photographed by Dom Moore
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of Exeter Contemporary Open, Exeter’s annual open submission exhibition for UK-based artists. Part of Exeter Phoenix’s thriving art scene, the exhibition provides an important national platform for contemporary visual artists, with an emphasis on supporting both emerging talent and more established artists.
The first Exeter Contemporary Open took place in 2006 and was curated by the then-gallery coordinator, Christine Jowett. From the start, the exhibition has brought critically engaged contemporary art to the heart of Exeter. Since then, the exhibition has grown in profile and reach, showing pieces from artists UK-wide and becoming an established part of the contemporary art scene. Over 20 years, the exhibition has remained an important free exhibition that aims to be accessible to both artists and audiences.
The very first Exeter Contemporary Open Exhibition back in 2006
Against the backdrop of the 2007-8 financial crash, which saw devastating cuts to art funding, the future of the Exeter Contemporary Open was supported by our long-standing sponsor Gravita (previously Haines Watts Chartered Accountants), alongside organisational development funding and support from our wider programme. This enabled us to reduce the submission cost, making the exhibition more financially accessible for artists submitting their work and for audiences to continue to come and enjoy exciting new contemporary artwork for free.
Matt Burrows became the Curator & Visual Arts Manager at Exeter Phoenix during this same time period. Each year, Matt leads the selection process for Exeter Contemporary Open along with the two guest selectors and the Exhibition Coordinator, Erika Cann. This year’s guest selectors were gallery owner Sid Motion and artist Martyn Cross, whose work has previously been exhibited at the Exeter Contemporary Open.
Exeter Contemporary Open opening ceremony 2025
Having curated the exhibition for many years, we asked Matt what his goal was for Exeter Contemporary Open, and what shapes his selection process. He replied the goal of the exhibition was to select art that was “interesting, challenging, beautiful and not boring”. Taking another moment to think, he said, “I want to be open to to all of the diversity that exists within art, and what that looks like in art and how the artists themselves operate… and make the best show possible”
The art itself is not intended to be what is easiest for us: it should challenge us and push boundaries. However, as a curator, Matt feels his job is to present work in a way that people can make sense of. Working closely with artists, pieces are brought together in dialogue with one another. Colours and shapes are brought out in each piece by proximity to one another. After many years of coming to Exeter Phoenix, one regular visitor said: " I didn't used to understand the exhibitions, but I've come to understand it's a language".
Matt and the galleries team are dedicated to ensuring that contemporary art is free and accessible to everyone, as well as allowing selected artists to form long-lasting connections. Matt described the goal of the galleries was to ensure the artists were happy, the audience were engaged and that great art was brought to the heart of Exeter.
Exeter Contemporary Open 2026 will be open to the public from Fri 11 Sep - Sat 31 Oct, Mon – Sat, 10am – 5.30pm with an exclusive preview on Thu 10 Sep by RSPV only.
Stay tuned for more ECO news, including some very special interviews with previous ECO artists