Art Fund grant of £815,035 saves 22 Dartington Hall artworks for Devon

A collection of 22 works by leading British Modernist artists from Dartington Hall has been bought for public ownership in Devon, thanks to a grant of £815,035 from Art Fund.

The Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery (RAMM) in Exeter and The Box in Plymouth have jointly acquired the paintings, works on paper and ceramics. Art Fund said its grant covers the whole acquisition and will keep the collection together for public display.

The works were bought in their entirety through a private sale brokered by Phillips ahead of its Modern and Contemporary Art auctions during Frieze Week in London. Art Fund said the grant was backed by contributions from individuals and trusts after an urgent fundraising campaign. The sale benefits the Dartington Hall Trust, which says it will support the preservation of the Dartington estate.

The artists include Bernard Leach, Ben Nicholson, Winifred Nicholson, Lucie Rie and Christopher Wood. The works had previously been displayed together at the Elmhirst Heritage Centre and Museum.

They are closely associated with Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst, who bought Dartington in 1925 and developed the estate as an experiment in rural regeneration, progressive education and the arts. It attracted artists, craftspeople, musicians, dancers, writers and thinkers from Britain, Europe, Asia and the United States.

The collection will be shared across Devon and not held in one place. RAMM and The Box will develop displays, interpretation, talks and research with Dartington and other Devon partners. Both museums will offer learning, skills and volunteering opportunities linked to the collection, and a symposium will bring together experts on Modern British art and studio ceramics. The works will also be available online through RAMM’s Collections Explorer and Art UK.

Jenny Waldman, director of Art Fund, said: “These 22 works belong together, and keeping them in public ownership in the South West will ensure that this important part of our cultural history can be shared with future generations.”

Councillor Lucy Findlay, Exeter City Council lead for culture and city centre, said the collection “speaks directly to the cultural and artistic history of Devon”. She said the partnership with The Box showed what could be achieved when organisations work together to safeguard nationally important heritage.

Councillor Jemima Laing, Plymouth City Council cabinet member for culture, said: “By securing this collection for public ownership, we have prevented an important piece of our shared cultural heritage from being lost.”

Olivia Thornton, deputy chairwoman and head of modern and contemporary art, Europe, at Phillips, said keeping the group together in public ownership was “a wonderful outcome”. She said the private sale benefited the Dartington Hall Trust and ensured the public could continue to enjoy the works.