| Activity | Dartington Amenity Research Trust (DART) was established in 1967 by the Dartington Hall Trust in association with the Leverhulme Trust as a charitable trust and independent unit, primarily to study recreation in the countryside and related aspects of rural and urban amenity. The interest of DART were national in scope and included: the study of natural resources and their use; rural land use and economy; social welfare; tourism and recreation.
For the first six years DART concentrated on recreation and tourism developing four main strands (research, practical experiment, advisory work, education and publication) in order: to show how diverse rural resources can be used for recreation and tourism, consistent with conservation and to the benefit of the rural economy; to study the implications of recreational use of resources, particularly the environmental impact, and the problems of method management; to advise Dartington Hall Trust and associated groups on the aspect of land development and management; and to contribution to public discussion and action in relation to the environment of Devon and the South West. For the following years DART was concerned with: resource planning; rural land use; conservation of the heritage; planning for leisure; social and economic needs of communities. By 1980, leisure had lost it's prominence on the political agenda, so DART concentrated on land use and management and social and economic development. This move was very significant bringing credit to Dartington and notable achievements of projects completed in the 1980s, but it also incurred growing financial commitments.
Dartington Institute of Community Studies (DICS) was established in October 1980 by the Dartington Hall Trustees and the Institute of Community Studies. DICS operated as a department under the Dartington Hall Trust with finance from the Elmgrant Trust. Michael Young was the Chairman and Michael Dower acted as Director. DICS engaged in research, policy studies, educational activity and practical innovation. It's focus was on the social and economic viability of communities, self-help within communities, personal, social and cultural development, and responsible use of resources. DICS acted as a means to express Dartington ideas to the outside and introduce outside ideas into Dartingtons internal planning. It also acted as source of advice and modest grant aid for local enterprises.
In 1981 it became necessary to rethink the future of DART. This coincided with thoughts about the function and future of DICS. Although they were separate different identities they were linked by Michael Young and Michael Dower. In 1982 DART and DICS were merged under the joint trading name of Dartington Institute. This created a complex legal position. DART was a charitable trust without incorporation or limited liability. DICS not a legal identity therefore operated under the legal umbrella of DART. DI was not a legal name therefore a new legal body Dartington Centre for Education and Research (DCER), a charitable company limited by guarantee was established to provide a frame work for the Institution. By 1984, DI became the trading name incorporating DICS and as an associate of DART, DCER the legal name with DART remaining the as a legal identity used for continuing contracts but its accounts were merged with DI.
In 1985 Michael Dower resigned as Director to become Chief Officer of the Peak District National Park and Peter Downing was appointed Director. In 1986, Dartington Centre for Education and Research became Dartington Action Research Trust. DI remained the trading arm of the new DART and in 1987 it was converted into a limited company. In 1988, DI (DART) was wound up as an independent unit and became a department of the Dartington Hall Trust. Its library was handed over to Seal-Hayne Agricultural College, and its archive retained on the Dartington estate. |