Arts for what, for where, for whom? Fragmentary reflections on Dartington College of Arts, 1961–2010

Abstract

In the summer of 2010 Dartington College of Arts (DCA) closed after almost 50 years on the Dartington Hall Estate in rural Devon, following a passionately contested merger with University College Falmouth in Cornwall in 2008. This essay – an unfinished and open-ended collection of reflections and fragments – maps out some of the key tropes, principles and practices of this remarkable and renowned project. Charting a singular path between the liberal humanities of the university sector and the vocational training of the conservatoires, DCA explored models of learning through practice in theatre, music, performance writing, choreography and contemporary visual arts.