Imagination is the key

After three successful Open Space meetings, Dartington would like to invite you to meet with their Chief Executive, Vaughan Lindsay and New Opportunities Director, Andy Christian at a series of informal drop in ideas sessions. These regular meetings are a further opportunity for all those with ideas to have a stake in Dartington, helping shape the future of the estate.

Dartington is already actively planning for the future and has no shortage of ideas of its own based around its five existing areas of work, arts, ecology, social justice, social enterprise and the place. Dartington’s ideas fall into one of three broad categories:

  • Expanding existing activities in existing areas; further developing already successful Dartington departments such as Research in Practice and Schumacher College.
  • Developing new activities in existing areas; the development of new projects such as an Arts Park on the estate.
  • New activities in new areas; through its independent status Dartington can address those issues that it sees as the most pressing problems of our time. Such ideas currently under consideration include new approaches to social housing and a school for social entrepreneurs.

Dartington’s own ideas were mirrored at the Open Space sessions where participants identified a series of recurring themes that they would like to see Dartington address on the estate.

  • Inter-generational activities and learning
  • Learning skills for sustainable living
  • New approaches to sustainable housing
  • New arts spaces for both production and interaction

Notes from all the Open Space meetings are available for review below

The first of the drop in sessions will take place on:

10th August: Yoga Room, The Mansion, Totnes between 9.00am and noon

13th September: Yoga Room, The Mansion, Totnes between 9.00am and noon

These sessions are your opportunity to discuss your ideas about innovations that Dartington might be involved with directly with Vaughan Lindsay and Andy Christian. Dartington is keen to encourage everyone with an interest in the estate and its activities to engage in this process.

Further sessions will take place on 11th October and 9th November; full details will be posted here. To pre-book a time at one of the drop in sessions please tel. Amy Burns on 01803 847527 or e-mail a.burns@ciderpress.co.uk.

Notes from the Open Space meeting at Dartington Primary School on Tuesday 10th July 2007

After introductions from Andy Christian, Innovations Director, Vaughan Lindsay, CEO of the Dartington Hall Trust and Matt Griffiths, Director of the Arts Department, those attending divided into groups to consider areas that Dartington might work in.

One group concluded that the main issues were

  1. Affordable, eco- friendly houses for rental.
  2. Inter-generational house sharing\caring.
  3. An education to encourage using all peoples senses to develop skills and exchange them.
  4. Encourage sociability and inter -generational activities by participation in the arts, sports, shopping and a café.
  5. Establish a local electric bus to ferry people to and from arts events ,classes etc.
  6. To provide allotments and make land available for small scale farming.

A second group wanted to see

  1. Affordable community development by developing sustainable housing.
  2. Re-establishing community spirit, increasing cultural experiences and parent education.
  3. Providing a space for the visual arts.
  4. To lobby for class sizes to be reduced from 30 to 18.
  5. A bringing together of adults and children.
  6. Flexible space for arts practicioners.

The third came up with

  1. Space for growing food.
  2. A place for inter-generational activity.
  3. Developing hand skills.
  4. A place to wake up to climate changes.
  5. A place for older people to learn about new technology.
  6. A place to consider philosophies outside of universities.

One group concerned themselves with the future of the College of Arts. They were keen to find funding which might keep the College on site. Though they did not stay to report back their notes suggest corporate funding and working with an architectural foundation to partner sustainable funding for the College. There was a suggestion of getting funding for particular posts within the College. A production house was also noted and a suggestion of workshops for development. They accorded the College with creativity, innovation, and experimentation. They suggested the idea of social inclusion and also conflict resolution in the arts. A partnership with Asian Institutions was also tabled.

Notes from the Open Space meeting at the Elmhirst Hall, KEVICC, Totnes, 20th June 2007

After an introduction by Vaughan Lindsay CEO of the Dartington Hall Trust (during which he talked about the recent history) Matt Griffiths talked about current new projects in the arts. Those attending then divided into two groups and their ideas of current issues were discussed.

After an open to all ideas session, participants were asked ‘To select some areas that Dartington may address’

One group selected:

  1. A welcome centre for the estate.
  2. Venues for the visual arts.
  3. Cradle to grave inter-generational education for life.
  4. Strengthening community sense and developing inclusiveness.
  5. Making a centre of excellence for everyone.
  6. Celebrating human closeness to nature.

The second group focused on:

  1. Life-long learning and education for life.
  2. A place for learning skills for sustainability.
  3. A place for inter-generational activities. Tap into the wisdom of older people and the energy of young people.
  4. A project to encourage affordable, self-build eco homes live work accommodation but to move on from it not to sell into the market at a profit.

The Dartington Hall Trust is a registered charity no. 279756. Company no. 1485560
Registered Office: The Elmhirst Centre, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6EL United Kingdom.
Telephone 01803 847000; Fax 01803 847007;

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