Our full programme of events for January, February and March 2023

To view our full programme of events and workshops for all ages, please see the outline below, or click here to see our full brochure: What’s On at the DEI Jan-Mar 2023
For bookable events, please click here: webcollect.org.uk/dei , which will take you to our bookings page.
If you are having difficulty, please contact the office by email [email protected] or phone 01392 274727
January | Day | Event | Times | Additional Info |
Rescue a book -Table top book display Many of the Institution’s books are in need of conservation and we need your help to preserve this year’s selection for future generations | ||||
5th | Thursday | Green Shoots Gardening Group | 10.30am – 2pm | Open to new members / Drop in |
10th | Tuesday | Book Group: The Comedians by Graham Greene | 2.30pm – 4pm | Open to new members / Drop in |
14th | Saturday | Bookworms Junior Members’ Club – Recycling craft workshop | 10.30am – 12 noon | Children 5+ / 12 places / Booking essential |
17th | Tuesday | Get the most from the DEI catalogue | 3pm – 4pm | One to one session / Booking essential |
18th | Wednesday | Cinema Club: Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022) | Doors 6pm / Film 6.30pm | Open to new members |
19th | Thursday | Green Shoots Gardening Group | 10.30am – 2pm | Open to new members / Drop in |
19th | Thursday | Craft a Paper Garland workshop | 5.30pm – 6.30 pm | Free and open to all young people and adults (no experience required) / 8 places / Booking essential |
26th | Thursday | West Quarter Research Group | 2.30pm – 4pm | Open to new members |
26th | Thursday | Evening lecture – Dr Kathryn Edwards “In Vogue: William Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon” | Doors 6pm / Talk 6.30pm / Supper 7.30pm | Tickets £25 / Booking essential |
28th | Saturday | Nature journaling (Winter) | 10:30am – 12 noon | Free / 8 places / Booking essential |
February | Day | Event | Times | Additional Info |
Table top book display – The blazing world As Luke Jerram’s Gaia arrives at Exeter Cathedral, we look to our book collections for illuminating works about the planet Earth. | ||||
From Wednesday 1st | Stairwell display – ’12 Stories for 12 Days of COP27′ in partnership with the University of Exeter and supporting Gaia Creates at Exeter Cathedral | During opening hours | Free / Drop in | |
2nd | Thursday | Green Shoots Gardening Group – Gaia themed activities in the garden and library | 10.30am – 2pm | Open to new members / Drop in |
4th | Saturday | Second-hand book and historical map sale | 11am – 3pm | Free / Drop in |
11th | Saturday | Big Insect Drawings – family fun event | 10:30am -12 noon | Free / 12 places / Children 8+ / Booking essential |
14th | Tuesday | Book Group: An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears | 2.30pm – 4pm | Open to new members / Drop in |
14th | Tuesday | Librarian’s Tour | 3pm – 3.45pm | 10 places / Booking essential |
15th | Wednesday | Cinema Club: The League of Gentlemen (1960) | Doors 6pm / Film 6.30pm | Open to new members |
16th | Thursday | Green Shoots Gardening Group – Gaia themed activities in the garden and library | 10.30am – 2pm | Open to new members / Drop in |
16th | Thursday | Rough Trade Books presents… Claire Ratinon on climate change. In partnership with Exeter City of Literature | 6pm – 7.30pm | Booking essential (pay what you can afford) |
18th | Saturday | Bookworms Junior Members’ Club – Discover Gaia | 10.30am – 12 noon | Children 5+ / 12 places / Booking essential |
21st | Tuesday | Get the most from the DEI catalogue | 3pm – 4pm | One-to-one session / Booking essential |
22nd | Wednesday | Skull Drawing observational workshop | 5.30pm – 6.30pm | Free / 10 places / Booking essential |
23rd | Thursday | West Quarter Research Group | 2.30pm – 4pm | Open to new members |
23rd | Thursday | Evening lecture – Lisa Wojahn “Married and Alone: The Unusual Lives of Women Who Married Royal Navy Officers” | Doors 6pm / Talk 6.30pm / Supper 7.30pm | Tickets £25 / Booking essential |
March | Day | Event | Times | Additional Info |
Table top display – The other side of the story? A display of books on voyages and travel, including colonial expeditions of the past. Have your say via our comment cards or by joining us for a ‘significance workshop’ on 29th March, where we will collaborate on a new narrative for this historic collection. | ||||
2nd | Thursday | Green Shoots Gardening Group | 10.30am – 2pm | Open to new members / Drop in |
4th | Saturday | World Book Day – family fun event | 10.30am – 12 noon | Free / Children 5+ / Booking essential |
11th | Saturday | Creating characters/Shaping stories (creative writing skills for children 8+) | 10.30am – 12 noon | Free / Children 8+ / 12 places / Booking essential |
14th to 18th | Tuesday to Saturday | Pop up table top book display for St. Patrick’s Day | During opening hours | Free / Drop in |
14th | Tuesday to Saturday | Book Group: The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak | 2.30pm – 4pm | Open to new members / Drop in |
15th | Wednesday | Remaking maps – cut/collage and sewing workshop | 5.30pm – 6.30pm | Open to all young people and adults / Booking essential |
15th | Wednesday | Cinema Club: A “Silent Film” Mini Comedy Festival from the 1920s | Doors 6pm / Film 6.30pm | Open to new members |
16th | Thursday | Green Shoots Gardening Group | 10.30am-2pm | Open to new members / Drop in |
16th | Thursday | Rough Trade Books presents… Zakiya McKenzie on colonialism and decolonisation. In partnership with Exeter City of Literature | 6pm – 7.30pm | Booking essential (pay what you can afford) |
18th | Saturday | Bookworms Junior Members’ Club – Easter make and take session | 10.30am – 12 noon | Children 5+ / 12 places / Booking essential |
21st | Tuesday | Get the most from the DEI catalogue | 3pm – 4pm | One-to-one session / Booking essential |
23rd | Thursday | West Quarter Research Group | 2.30pm – 4pm | Open to new members |
25th | Saturday | Easter crafts – decorate eggs at a stay and play family workshop | 10.30am – 12 noon | Free / Children 5+ / Booking essential |
29th | Wednesday | Significance workshop – voyages and travel collections | 10am – 12 noon | Free / 12 places / Booking essential |
30th | Thursday | Evening lecture – Philip Schwyzer, Niall Allsopp and David Parry (University of Exeter) “Writing Religious Conflict and Community in Exeter, 1500–1750” | Doors 6pm / Talk 6.30pm / Supper 7.30pm | Tickets £25 / Booking essential |