Dartington Centenary Celebration at The Green Table
Early Bird Tickets are now on sale for A Celebration of Utopia – “Honouring the Elmhirsts”
This July, Dartington Hall comes alive with a vibrant celebration marking 100 years since Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst launched their bold and visionary experiment in Utopia. On July 4th, XR21 and the Green Table Café invite you to a day of creativity, reflection, and joyful remembrance — celebrating the enduring spirit of Dartington: past, present, and future.
Set in the heart of the Dartington estate, the event features a rich mix of live music, film, comedy, photography and conversation, honouring the Elmhirsts and all those who have contributed to Dartington’s unique cultural legacy.
Since its founding in 1925, Dartington Hall has been a crucible for radical ideas, artistic freedom, and social innovation. Visionaries such as Aldous Huxley, Bertrand Russell, Ravi Shankar, and Michael Young once walked its paths. But Dartington’s story didn’t stop there.
From the groundbreaking Dartington College of Arts and Summer School, which shaped generations of performance artists, to Schumacher College, a global leader in ecological education, Dartington remains a beacon of creativity and change.
Event Highlights Include:
- Live Music from Dreamadelica
- Comedy from Dave Thompson (best known as the original Tinky Winky from Teletubbies)
- A screening of Memories of Dartington — a film reflecting on the estate’s radical beginnings, the rise of the arts college, and its continuing role as a hub for creative and sustainable futures
- An immersive photo exhibition / zine with QR code-accessed sound poems Presented by Paul Hornsby and XR21 (www.xr21.net) “The exhibition was created with a modified camera that only records infra-red light and evokes my memories of being a student at Dartington. I have tried to evoke my personal experience and convey the serenity and meditative qualities of this environment.”
- A special Q&A session: horticulturist Mary Bartlett in conversation with Peter Marsh, exploring Dartington’s legacy of sustainable land use and gardening — from the Elmhirsts’ pioneering practices to today’s ecological visions
- DJ-set by Silence until late
One of the organisers, Musician Gilbert Gabriel said of the photo exhibition: “This immersive project pairs carefully curated photographs with original sound poems to create a multi-sensory experience. The exhibition/zine combines visual art with sound poetry, offering a unique opportunity for audiences to engage deeply with both mediums“
Food, freshly baked pizzas and drinks will be available from the Green Table and this unique gathering offers connection, insight and celebration in a place like no other.
Come and experience the spirit of a world-renowned attempt at utopia — and be part of the next chapter.
July 4th at the Green Table Café | Early Bird Tickets £10 including a Free Drink for the first 100 tickets – Tickets available here: https://www.tixtree.com/e/dartington-arts-centenary-night-celebrations-fed8ecbf4a9c