A national project testing whether poetry can translate policy and help raise a new generation of civic leaders.

Connecting Dots – Cultural Research Exchange: Exeter

Friday 4 September 2026 · 6:00–9:30 PM

Exeter Phoenix

Connecting Dots: Between Policy and Poetry is a national research and development programme exploring how culture can help bridge the gap between public policy and everyday life. Following its first Cultural Research Exchange in Croydon, the programme now comes to Exeter for its second live Exchange.

The project explores how poetry, spoken word and arts-based conversation can make public policy more human, accessible and culturally credible - while creating stronger connections between young people, local institutions, artists and opportunity providers.

Our aims

1. Use the arts to make policy more human, accessible and culturally credible, and to help young people investigate, express and influence the issues affecting their boroughs.

2. Use arts-based exchange as a conduit for coordination between young people, councils, businesses, Jobcentres, Business Improvement Districts, employers, services, artists and community organisations, so real opportunities and new relationships can emerge.

What to expect

Across the evening, we’ll bring together:

Policy translation - exploring key policies and what they mean in everyday life.

Live poetry and performance - artists responding to policy, place and lived experience.

Mini workshops - space to reflect, write and contribute your own perspective.

Cross-sector conversation - bringing together young people, local government, community organisations, artists and civic voices.

Opportunities and networking - connecting people to organisations, relationships and opportunities within Exeter.

No previous knowledge of politics or public policy is needed.

Connecting Dots launched its first Cultural Research Exchange in Croydon in August, with promising early findings around policy understanding, civic confidence and participation. The project has since attracted coverage from BBC London and The Voice newspaper.

Now we’re bringing the research to Exeter to explore what the model can achieve in a different city, with a different community and local context.

Free to attend. Places are limited.

Description supplied by the event organiser.