Collection: The Dartington Hall Trust Records
Level: Series
RefNo: T/DCA
Extent: 14 Boxes
Title: Trust Dartington College of Arts
Dates: 1962-

Administrative History: The Dartington College of Arts is the direct descendant of the Dartington Hall Trust Arts Department created in 1934. It became the Dartington College of Arts in 1962. The governing body of the College included trustees of The Dartington Hall Trust and their representatives, representatives of the Devon County Education Committee, the Universities of Bristol and Exeter, and the Chief Education Officer for Devon. In 1989 the College was incorporated as an independent charitable company of which The Dartington Hall Trust remained a member. With the formal establishment of the Dartington College of Arts, responsibility for public arts activities on the Dartington estate was transfered to the Dartington Arts Society.

Description: This series consists of records about the Dartington College of Arts that were primarily collected by the College governors representing The Dartington Hall Trust. These governors included Peter Sutcliffe, Leonard Elmhirst, Maurice Ash, Christopher Zealley, A O (Pom) Elmhirst, and John Lane. Records include reports from the College principal (Peter Cox) and other senior officers. Records document the development of the College especially the degree accreditation process via the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA). Records also reflect the College's gradual progression to become a Local Education Authority assisted institution within the terms of the Further Education Regulations. Correspondence covers the complex issues relating to the changing nature of the College and its relationship with the Trust and Dartington Hall trustees, and the appointment of College governors. Records cover the establishing of Honours Degree courses within Music, Theatre and Arts departments. There are also records relating to the Music for Slow Learners project as part of The Arts in the Education of Handicapped Children and Young People. Reference is also made to the College's future in the context of the Government's White Paper: 'Education: a Framework for Expansion' (early 1970s) and in the light of Government public expenditure cuts for higher education (early 1980s).

Access Restrictions: Archives held by The Dartington Hall Trust are subject to Trust policies which generally follow normal document closure periods for public records. Records that are not governed by the Data Protection Act of 1998 and that are more than 30 years old are open for research. In addition, it is Trust policy that records of people still living are closed.

For more information see our online catalogue reference T/DCA