EXETER PHOENIX

Exeter's cultural lungs: its Fine Arts. The entrance is dominated by a steel phoenix, made from recycled materials. The effect is striking, and with its half-cartoon, half-science-fiction look, the interior is all the more atypical. The few rooms open to the public offer a glimpse of the works created by the students: filmed happenings, photo works, paintings, sculptures and even haute couture ensembles. Let's face it: a breeding ground for artists, some of whom deserve to break through. The coffee in the back rooms is convivial, artists rub shoulders with dreadlocked waiters and you walk on a work of art: the floor is made up of sheets of novels, sheet music and photos, all protected by a thin layer of resin, "artifacts of a society in perdition" according to the artist. The center also presents a very interesting film program, in partnership with The Exeter Film Society (www.exeterfilmsociety.co.uk).