PRESS RELEASE

28 April 2014

Arts Council England awards Dartington £150K grant

Aakash Odedra, one of the most exciting prospects in British dance and a hugely sought after British choreographer and dancer, is the first residency at Space to benefit from the new £150K Arts Council England artists grant to Dartington.

Odedra is one of seven creative companies, over a two year period that will benefit from the new Arts Council England grant. Others include London-based theatre company Fanshen, who ‘use theatre to help people imagine what they haven't thought of yet'; Earfilms, a company creating purely audio films for the ears and the imagination by fusing live story-telling, 3D sound and a cinematic musical score; and Impermanence Dance Theatre, former Dartington residency artists who are to create dance theatre with young people across Torbay.

The grant also supports a new commission from former Dartington College of Arts student Ansuman Biswas for the 2015 Tagore Festival, and a second major land-based commission in 2016.

Dartington will give the artists professional business support, a dedicated producer, studio space and opportunities to showcase their new and innovative work to audiences across the south west.

Space at Dartington is fast becoming the place to be for dance, theatre and film companies, and individual artists who want to develop significant new works and collaborations. The Dance Studio at Space is widely acknowledged as the birthplace of contemporary dance, and attracts attention from artists who want to spend time immersing themselves in their own practice. Space has recently played host to Wayne McGregor, Mark Morris, Richard Alston and Rambert Dance.

Space was Odedra's chosen venue for developing his new solo work Murmur, which was co-commissioned by Arts at Dartington and will première on 6 May 2014 at International Dance Festival Birmingham, ahead of touring as part of a double bill with Inked, a new solo by Olivier-winning choreographer Damien Jalet.

Odedra will return to Dartington with Murmur, when he headlines at the Tagore Festival, 20 to 22 June. To coincide with the centenary of World War One, this year's festival will feature a range of world-class performers who will bring the theme of peace to life through music, dance and debate, representing the very best of East meets West.

Located at the beautiful Dartington Hall Estate in Totnes, in the heart of Devon, Space offers a range of world-class studio facilities to support emerging talent. It attracts internationally renowned visiting companies, artists and producers who come to immerse themselves in their own practice, whether that's the research and development of new work, or a testing ground for new ideas and collaborations - a chance for visiting performers to try bold experiments with movement, sound, light and props.

Bill Gee, Artistic Director at Space, says: "Our vision is to create a vibrant hub for the south west region and visiting national and international artists. A space where emerging talent can work alongside established artists at the top of their profession. A space in which we offer first class facilities for a range of art forms and which enables and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration.

"Space is not only the largest collection of high quality arts spaces available for hire in the South West, it provides an internationally unrivalled facility."

A creative centre of international significance, Space includes eight purpose built large performing arts studios, a large multipurpose makers' studio and workshop space, a gallery and two smaller rehearsal studios and meeting rooms, and can accommodate live performances, film and sound recording and catering for specialisms including music, dance, performance, and craft.

To hire a studio in Space at Dartington Hall email:bookingspace@dartington.org
or telephone:01803 847074.For residency bookings in Space, telephone:01803 847075www.dartington.org/space

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Dartington Hall Trusthas an 80 year history of supporting artists from diverse backgrounds to produce work. Through Space it opens its facilities to a wide range of creative organisations and individual artists who wish to make new work. Dartington is a place of learning and experiment addressing some of the significant issues of our time.In its charitable activities, Dartington works to create social change in collaboration with pioneering thinkers, artists, entrepreneurs and activists in the UK and around the world. Its enterprise activities include The Shops at Dartington with 15 boutique shops, a conference centre with accommodation and the award-winning White Hart restaurant and bar. Over 1 million visitors annually come to visit Dartington.www.dartington.org.

For further press information and images please contact:

Chrissie Williams or Jane Adkins at A Head for PR

Chrissie@aheadforpr.co.ukTel: 07715 816363

Jane@aheadforpr.co.ukTel: 01935 813114

April 2014 (SP 01)