Creative Opportunities
This page is dedicated to sharing creative opportunities both here at Exeter Phoenix and from other creative projects and organisations in the region.
Current Opportunities
Cinema Rediscovered 2026: Pitch to Park Circus
Deadline: Mon 25 May, midnight
Park Circus is teaming up once again with Cinema Rediscovered to invite you to pitch a 4 - 5 repertory film season idea curated from their catalogue for 2027.
Three proposals will be selected by Park Circus and Cinema Rediscovered teams, with successful applicants notified by Mon 22 Jun 2026 and invited to present their idea to a panel of exhibition industry professionals at Cinema Rediscovered at Watershed in Bristol on Thu 23 Jul 2026.
The winners’ season will become a collection in the Park Circus catalogue with an article on the website and a page in their quarterly Booking guide for Programmers with full credit mentions.
The winner will also receive promotional support via Cinema Rediscovered channels, plus a pass and a travel bursary of up to £500 to attend next year’s edition of the festival.
Exeter Northcott Scratch Night in collaboration with Exeter Phoenix (Reclaim)
Applications close 10am, Wed 06 May
This edition of Exeter Northcott Scratch Night in collaboration with Exeter Phoenix offers South West-based women-led theatre companies and performance artists a chance to stretch their ideas and the opportunity to test their work in the Clifford Room at the Barnfield theatre, along with £150 to help develop their idea and a small amount of rehearsal space before the Scratch Night.
Scratch Night will be taking place at Barnfield Theatre as part of Reclaim (a festival of work by women, for everyone) on Wed 17 Jun.
Writing for Animation: A Storytelling Development Lab
Application deadline: Mon 11 May
Four BFI NETWORK Hubs have teamed up with ScreenSkills Animation Fund to create this new lab for writers to develop, experiment and expand their skills and understanding of storytelling in animation.
The lab will support up to 12 early-career writers already working in animation, or with the ambition to write for animation. With a range of speakers and masterclasses on subjects such as structure, collaboration and audience, the lab will offer tangible and practical insights to the exciting visual potential of animation storytelling. Applicants must apply with a short film idea, and selected writers will then work with a script editor to develop it during the lab.
The lab will run from Mon 29 June to Wed 30 Sep. The lab will take place mostly online with one in-person day at Aardman in Bristol (reasonable travel expenses will be covered).
Online Masterclass: Developing Personal Stories with Thea Gajic
Thu 14 May at 12pm | Free to attend
Join BFI NETWORK south west for an online masterclass with Thea Gajic, writer-director of Surviving Earth.
This session explores how to develop stories rooted in lived experience, and how to thoughtfully incorporate real-life material into your filmmaking.
Thea will discuss the development process, when to stay close to real events, when to step away, and how structure and perspective influence the story that you tell. She will also reflect on collaboration when developing as a writer, and how to navigate the process in a way that looks after your boundaries and wellbeing.
This masterclass is designed for filmmakers who want to draw on their own experiences while maintaining a strong and flexible development process, equipping you with practical tools to bring personal-inspired stories to the screen.
Please note, you must be 18+, out of full-time education and based in the south west of England to attend.
Exeter Contemporary Open 2026
Deadline: 11.59pm, Sun 07 Jun 2026
Exeter Contemporary Open is an annual open submission exhibition, established in 2006 and hosted by Exeter Phoenix, a busy, multi-artform venue and contemporary art space situated in Exeter’s historic city centre. The exhibition aims to provide an important national platform for contemporary visual art with an emphasis on supporting emerging talent alongside more established artists.
The exhibition will run from 11 September – 31 October 2026 and is open to contemporary visual artists working in any media including painting, sculpture, photography, print, drawing, video, mixed and digital media. It will be staged across Exeter Phoenix’s two beautiful gallery spaces located either side of the main entrance foyer.
Exeter Northcott Scratch Night in collaboration with Exeter Phoenix (Elevate Festival)
Applications close 10am, Mon 28 Sep
Exeter Northcott Scratch Night in collaboration with Exeter Phoenix 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 Clifford Room at the Barnfield Theatre, along with £150 to help develop their idea and a small amount of rehearsal space before the Scratch Night.
This Scratch Night will be taking place at Barnfield Theatre during Elevate Festival on Mon 02 Nov, 7pm - 9pm.
Two Short Nights Film Festival 2027: Short Film Submissions
Submissions are now open for Two Short Nights Film Festival 2027 for short films from every genre including drama, animation, documentary, artists moving image, experimental and music videos.
The 25th edition of Two Short Nights Film Festival will take place at Exeter Phoenix on Thu 04 Mar and Fri 05 Mar 2027.
Submission Deadlines and Fees:
- Early Bird Deadline: Sun 31 May (£6)
- Regular Deadline: Fri 31 Jul (£9)
- Late Deadline: Mon 31 Aug (£12)
- Extended Deadline: Wed 30 Sep (£17)
Ongoing Opportunities
Creative Hub Publication
Looking for creative opportunities in the South West? Our Creative Hub publication shares monthly updates on all things creative in Exeter.
Commissions
Every year Exeter Phoenix commissions new work, primarily from artists, filmmakers and theatre makers based in the South West region.
Little Scratch Night
What comes before Scratch? The itch, of course!
Little Scratch is an informal, safe and nurturing space for local creatives to not only talk through their ideas, but to connect with fellow creatives about the kind of work they want to create, on a monthly basis.
Exhibiting Opportunities
Gallery333 is a dedicated space to exhibit small, contemporary art installations. It is an intimate ‘window’ gallery space with a secure glass door situated in a busy location within the building. Dimensions are 125cm high x 74cm wide x 36cm deep.
NEW BAND SHOWCASE
New Band Showcase is a regular opportunity for emerging musicians to perform on the big stage at Exeter Phoenix! We are a proud supporter of new talent and accept applications to perform at future New Band Showcases on an ongoing basis. Please email us with a link to listen to your work.
Join Our Team Of Volunteer Stewards
None of the day to day activity at Exeter Phoenix could be accomplished without our passionate team of volunteers and staff to make it happen. We’re always looking for new people to get involved.