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| Over 1000 People Turn Out for 'Save Dartington College Day' |
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Over 1000 people participated in a day of protest at the removal of Dartington College of Arts from the Dartington Estate and Totnes.
Student and staff marchers were greeted at the Dartington Gatehouse by the people of Totnes who turned out in their hundreds, and together they processed to the Civic Square in the centre of Totnes.
Daniel Cooke, President of the Student Union, eloquently expressed the feeling of many when he said: “Seeing all those townspeople waiting to welcome us at the bottom of the drive brought me close to tears”. Rachel Miller, from the Save Dartington College Campaign said: “The feeling amongst the townspeople was electric as the student marchers appeared, and many people had tears in their eyes. This was a powerful and historic moment”
The public meeting at the Civic Hall drew even more townspeople, many hundred of whom had to listen to the speeches through loudspeakers outside, as the hall was filled to capacity.
The meeting opened with a performance of the last two movements of Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony performed by the Torbay Symphony Orchestra. This was followed by a moving speech by Verity Sharp, Radio 3 presenter of Late Junction and a former student at the college. She said: “it’s so brilliant to be here. Dartington has taught me so much wisdom. To close it down doesn’t bear thinking about”
The Mayor of Totnes, Cllr. Pruw Boswell, officially opened the meeting with a moving speech. “I knew when I was coming here today that it was going to be big, but never in my wildest dreams did I think there would be quite so many. I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of this town.”
Members of staff, representatives from the college unions, the local business community, the student union and the Save Dartington College Campaign all spoke of the importance of the college both to the town and to the wider community.
In a video message to the meeting, Tim Etchells, a former student and now an internationally recognised artistic director said: “It would quite simply be a terrible shame, and as far as I am concerned, an act of vandalism if the college was forced to relocate.” Gavin Bryars, another internationally recognised composer said he was “horrified at the idea of the college being moved.”
Karan Braun, one of several people who came from Europe for the day of protest said: “Small colleges all over Europe are being closed – this is a European wide issue, and we must fight to save Dartington”
Audio recordings of all the speeches will be posted on the website in the next few days.
The meeting was followed by a concert given by staff, student and local ensembles. In the evening the Totnes Jazz Collective benefit gig was filled to capacity and included performances by the college Jazz ensemble and the town’s Jazz community.
Our sincere thanks to all those who helped make this such an extraordinary day.
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