Who we are and what we do
Dartington is a place of learning and experiment addressing some of the significant issues of our time.
Today, working in partnership with pioneering thinkers, teachers, artists and social entrepreneurs, we:
- Set up our own initiatives and programmes, building on our skills, resources and heritage
- Offer the time, space and stimulation for others to develop and test promising ideas
- Inspire a wide community of artists, thinkers and activists through our work and the exceptional environment we provide
Dartington is an independent charitable organisation, trading ethically and sustainably as a social enterprise in order to fund our pioneering work.
Based near Totnes in South Devon, the Dartington Hall Trust occupies an 880 acre estate which was bought in 1925 by visionaries Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst as the base for an experiment in rural regeneration. For further information on the Elmhirsts and the history of Dartington see the story so far.
AIMS IN 2012/13
We aim to make a positive difference to people’s lives and to the future of our planet.
In 2012/13 we will support the arts by:
- Creating opportunities for at least 2,500 members of the local community, national and international visitors to directly participate in music, drama and the visual arts, developing their skills and broadening their experience
- Supporting at least 150 highly talented artists in creating new, challenging work at Dartington that they subsequently take out to audiences across the region, country and internationally
- Showing work, across a range of art-forms to audiences totalling 200,000 people on and off the Dartington Hall estate.
In 2012/13 we will contribute to a more sustainable society by:
- Innovating Schumacher College’s learning programme to inspire 550 change makers, social entrepreneurs and practitioners to enable them to create a more sustainable way of life.
- Building strong partnerships with organisations and the local community to find new ways to use the land on our estate to support the arts, the development of a fairer society and to evidence the positive environmental outcomes of sustainable husbandry
- Ensuring that at least 85% of Dartington’s waste is being recycled by the end of the year
In 2012/13 we will promote a fairer society by:
- Helping those working across the children’s and adults’ sectors to support more than 50,000 of the most disadvantaged children and adults up and down the country, by providing opportunities to learn from research evidence and to share best practice
- Achieve financial backing of £27 million for an experimental residential community that demonstrates a better way of living in older age for everyone
- Support and mentor 60 new social entrepreneurs whose businesses will support their local communities and environment
In 2012/13 on our estate we will:
- Increase the number of visitors to Dartington who engage with the work we do to help achieve a more sustainable, just and creative society and enjoy the open spaces, beautiful gardens and history of our 880 acre estate
- Maintain the distinctive quality of the historic buildings and land that lie at the heart of our estate, so that they continue to welcome and inspire the people who think, learn, create and relax here
- Raise £3m from the sale of peripheral land and properties to help us maintain the quality of our core estate and to deliver and develop our charitable work
In 2012/13 as an organisation we will:
- Manage the development of our social enterprises so that they provide sustainable jobs for 350 local people, generate positive social and environmental returns and contribute over £1m to support our charitable work
- Better communicate how our work helps to achieve a more sustainable, just and creative society
- Work continuously to ensure that all our staff feel valued, well supported, able to do great work and achieve amazing results
- Improve our fundraising and marketing capabilities to encourage wider participation in our work and inspire people to invest in and support our mission
- Look to the future and identify how we can best use Dartington’s unique assets from 2015 – 2020 to contribute to the development of a more sustainable, just and creative society
Dartington is a beautiful, inspiring place and we welcome over one million visitors to the estate every year. Whilst you’re here, explore our beautiful grounds and gardens, have a coffee in the Roundhouse Café, catch a film in the Barn Cinema or have lunch and a drink at the White Hart pub. Drop into the Shops at Dartington, on your way home. You’ll be helping to support our charitable programmes.