The Art Fund has stepped in to save 22 artworks from the Dartington Hall Collection for the nation, providing an exceptional grant to fund a joint acquisition by The Box, Plymouth, and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM), Exeter. The collection, comprising works by leading British Modernist artists, was acquired in its entirety through a private sale brokered by Phillips.
The collection features paintings, works on paper, and ceramics by artists central to twentieth-century British art, including Bernard Leach, Ben Nicholson, Winifred Nicholson, Lucie Rie, and Christopher Wood. The £815,035 grant, backed by individual and trust contributions, covers 100 per cent of the acquisition cost, ensuring the works remain together for public display.
Previously displayed at the Elmhirst Heritage Centre and Museum, the works are closely associated with Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst and the cultural history of Dartington, Devon. The Elmhirsts developed the estate from 1925 as a centre for rural regeneration, progressive education, and the arts, attracting a diverse range of creative individuals.
The artworks will be shared across Devon, with The Box and RAMM developing displays, interpretation, and research in partnership with Dartington and other local organisations. Both museums will offer learning and volunteering opportunities, and a symposium will bring together experts on Modern British Art and studio ceramics. The collection will also be accessible online through RAMM’s Collections Explorer and Art UK.
The sale benefits the Dartington Hall Trust, supporting the preservation of the estate and its founders' legacy. Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund, highlighted the collection's importance as a record of artistic and cultural life at Dartington and its influence on British Modernism, expressing delight that the full funding was provided for the acquisition.
Councillor Jemima Laing, Plymouth City Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, described the acquisition as exciting for Plymouth, Devon, and the nation, emphasising its role in preventing the loss of shared cultural heritage and its insight into the vision of Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst.
Councillor Lucy Findlay MBE, Exeter City Council Lead for Culture and City Centre, noted the collection's significance to Devon's cultural history and the visionary patronage of the Elmhirsts, praising the partnership with The Box Plymouth for safeguarding nationally important heritage.
Olivia Thornton, Deputy Chairwoman and Head of Modern & Contemporary Art, Europe, at Phillips, expressed delight in working with the public institutions to secure the future of the works, honouring the Elmhirsts' vision and ensuring public enjoyment.
