We are planning a festival for summer 2010, to mark the transition of the College to its new home in Falmouth, and to celebrate the achievements of those who have studied at Dartington over the last (nearly!) seven decades. The proposed dates for the festival are Thursday 17 June to Sunday 20 June 2010, which will include a colloquium being organised by Fred McVittie, 1989 theatre graduate and currently Field Director : Theatre, who explains its significance: ‘Dartington College of Arts emerged at a very particular moment in the cultural life of the country, and in a very specific place. Its existence simultaneously represents a zeitgeist, a dream, a utopian vision and a strange anachronism. The impending closure of the college has been met with a wide range of responses, but one aspect of this event, as with all moments of closure, is that it provides a unique opportunity to view this experience in its totality. The contribution that the community and courses at Dartington have made to cultural life is extensive and yet relatively undersung. Apart from a small number of publications it exists only in the minds and tacit practices of those who have experienced the unique education (in the truest sense of the word) that this community provides. This colloquium (draft title ‘Extended Play’) will begin to gather, identify, and evaluate this contribution.’ The festival will consist of a number of ‘pARTs’ – a colloquium, a pARTy, a performance/screening showcase and maybe other pARTs also. There will be performances and exhibitions by present and former students. There will also be a number of ‘fringe’ events organised by the Student Union, to include performances in the SU bar (The Rat & Emu) and elsewhere. The weekend will be organised along the lines of the 10/20 year annual reunions, with two celebration dinners (provisionally: Friday evening, 18 June: those who left Dartington pre-1990; Saturday evening, 19 June: those who left Dartington from 1990
onwards). There will be a limited number of rooms available in the Courtyard. Accommodation and meals will be provided by the Dartington Accommodation and Catering Services (DACS). There will also be facilities for camping at Aller Park and lists of places in the Totnes /Dartington area which provide B&B will also be available on request. Formal invitations and booking forms will be sent out in the spring. We look forward to seeing you in June 2010. The Festival Steering Group