Article date: Wednesday May 14 2008

The summer holiday just got a lot more fun, as Dartington opens its doors to the ultimate holiday club – offering a wide range of week long courses in the performing arts, film, technical production and music, keeping education and creative experimentation at the top of the Dartington agenda.

This year the Dartington Summer Youth Programme (DSYP) is running 18 different creative courses, dedicated to music, the performing arts, theatre, broadcast production and film – aimed at children and young people aged 6-19 year olds.

Emma Trend the Dartington education manager said, “We want to give students the best. Not just the best tuition, but a fun environment, great food, excellent equipment, and a brilliant time.”

The courses run from 3 to 23 August and range from £50 to £235. Each course ends with a large-scale show that will celebrate and showcase the best of the collaborative work from throughout the week.

Janet Parker, Ex Head Teacher, St. John’s Primary School in Totnes said, “Children from St. John’s School have been involved with Dartington projects over recent years. The benefits to pupils have been enormous, especially around confidence building and raising self-esteem. They have also gained greater knowledge and understanding of other cultures”

The Summer Youth Programme is targeted at young people from across the country, with bursary places available to those on low incomes and inner city student transfers being arranged from as far as London.

Along with the obvious regional appeal, the Dartington Summer Youth Programme is a great option for holidaymakers who want to give their kids something fun and high energy to do during their break.

South Hams District Councillor Bryan Carson said, “The Dartington Summer Youth Programme is an amazing asset to tourism in South Devon because it offers holidaymakers the chance to give their children a totally different and unexpected social and creative experience – while giving parents some free time to go out and explore the many delights of South Devon.”

To find out more about the Dartington Summer Youth Programme, including how to sign up for a course or apply for a bursary – please visit www.dsyp.org.