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Mission
To organise events and create a permanent legacy
recognising, commemorating, and celebrating
the important connection between
Dartmouth and the Pilgrim Fathers’ Mayflower story.
Vision
Working with the Mayflower 400 cities and towns, first, to celebrate in
2020 the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s stay in Dartmouth in
1620 and the important role Dartmouth played in the voyage, and
secondly, to embed into Dartmouth’s full and colourful history a
permanent and beneficial physical, economic and educational legacy
of the Mayflower story and all that it represents.
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Goals to Achieve the Vision
THE COMMEMORATION IN 2020
To stimulate and involve the whole community in organising and
participating in a wide range of events, which will create a
memorable occasion. These activities will be held over the period
from January 2020 and leading up to August 2020, culminating in
a re-enactment of the sailing of the Mayflower
THE LEGACY FROM 2020
To ensure that the projects and activities planned, details of which
are set out in the following sections, will promote the town and
leave a permanent physical, educational and economically
beneficial legacy.
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Proposed Projects
Arts & Culture
Heritage & Education
Economy & Business
Organisation & People
Funding
Beneficiaries
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Arts & Culture
The Mayflower 400 opening ceremony to include some of
the following: An original musical score exploring the many memorable compositions
focusing on sea adventures.
 A commemoration of British and American music with guest performers.
 A Mayflower 400 anthem to be celebrated in concert halls and churches here
and across the sea.
 The Mayflower 400 peal composed by our Tower Captain and performed by
all the many Bell Towers along the coast following the Mayflower’s progress.
 A Mayflower 400 Chorus comprising 400 schoolchildren of the area.
Paintings from originals with the kind permission of John Gillo – Bayard’s Cove
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Legacy Projects
 Concerts, encompassing many musical genres, exploring the history and depth of
British/American music with nationally and internationally acclaimed performers.
 An original play commemorating the Pilgrim story written and performed by local
historians and performers.
 A vision of the life of Dartmouth in 1620 by residents and traders with food, street
stalls, costume and entertainment.
 A large commemorative quilt designed and executed by groups and individuals from
Dartmouth and its Villages.
 A commemorative stained glass window to take pride of place in The Mayflower 400
visitors centre.
 Designing and developing a Colonial Garden within the Town centre growing and
depicting the plants that were used by the Pilgrims.
 A specially commissioned book outlining the story of the Mayflower and the part
Dartmouth played in its journey.
 The Story of The Mayflower and the Pilgrims written and illustrated by Dartmouth
schoolchildren.
 The creation of a “interactive Virtual Reality of the Mayflower moored alongside
Bayards Cove in 1620” for everyone to experience, which will become a permanent
feature in the town.
 Uniting the Dartmouth Churches celebrating the establishment of a church by the
Pilgrim Fathers in the New World, free from religious intolerance.
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Heritage & Education
 Creating a permanent Mayflower exhibition and visitor centre to be opened in
January 2020, launching the year’s events.
 Commissioning the build of a green oak scale model of the Mayflower. This will form
part of the exhibits housed by the Visitor Centre.
 Developing and installing a virtual reality, interactive media technology project in the
Visitor Centre for visitors and schools, illustrating the construction of the Mayflower,
the way of life on board the Mayflower, life in Dartmouth and the life of Pilgrims in the
New Colony in 1620. This technology will be developed nationally and locally within
Universities and schools and will be ongoing.
 Engaging the educational institutions of the town in the planning and legacy of the
project. These include:
 Five primary schools, Dartmouth, St. John the Baptist, Stoke Fleming, Blackawton,
and Kingswear; the Dartmouth Senior Academy and The Britannia Royal Naval
College
Local cultural volunteer groups:
Dartmouth Museum
University of the Third Age
Dartmouth and Kingswear Fine Art Society
The Dartmouth and Kingswear Society
Dartmouth Art Society
The History Group
Dartmouth Green Partnership
Dartmouth Film Society
 Town signage that will augment the History Trail and recognise the significance of
The Mayflower.
 A re-creation of the Plymouth colonial village in the town centre, providing a living
illustration of the way of life.
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Economy & Business
 Promoting the town over the time leading up to 2020 with publicity, trail town
exchanges, association with the General Society of Mayflower Descendents.
Establishing and developing the connection between Dartmouth UK and Dartmouth,
Massachusetts to endure beyond 2020
 Engaging the business community to own and embrace the project, which will
enhance the town’s profile both locally and nationally through and beyond 2020. By
raising the profile of the town through cultural, educational and other projects there
will be increased visitor flow and opportunities for developing business opportunities;
for example:

promoting local food,

encouraging signature products, and

encouraging local business involvement in the retail stalls and outlets at
the event
Paintings from originals with the kind permission of John Gillo – Castle Ferry
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Organisation and People
 The Dartmouth Initiative is part the nationwide Mayflower 400 Compact. Dartmouth
will play a full part in the overall development and co-ordination of the 2020 activities.
It is led by the Dartmouth Town Council (DTC) and charitable status is being
explored.
 The organisation is currently led by a steering group chaired by the town mayor. In
addition there will be a number of working groups, each chaired by a member of the
Steering Group. These working groups will lead, inspire and promote the detailed
projects and activities referred to in this document, subject to co-ordination by the
Steering Group.
The Steering Group and Working Groups will have the
following skills.
PATRON:
VICE-PATRONS:
CHAIRMAN: Mayor of Dartmouth Town Council
VICE-CHAIRMAN
TREASURER
SECRETARY
PROJECT MANAGER
ARTS DIRECTOR
HISTORICAL ADVISER
MARITIME: BRNC/.
EDUCATION:
FINANCE:
ECONOMY/BUSINESSES
LEGAL:
MARKETING:
MERCHANDISING:
MINUTE SECRETARY
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Funding
It is intended to raise money through:
 Crowd funding
 Merchandising
 Individual sponsorship and donations
 The National Lottery
 Funding bodies – local and national
 Corporate Sponsorship
 Ticketed events
Paintings from originals with the kind permission of John Gillo – Britannia Royal Naval College
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Beneficiaries
 The whole community of Dartmouth, together with visitors, will benefit, first through
organising and enjoying the 2020 event and subsequently through the ongoing
educational, historical and tourist benefits of the visitor centre and other projects.
 Links with Dartmouth and Plymouth, Massachusetts, particularly using new
interactive technology, will enable UK and US schools, as well as others, to build on
the historical and cultural connections, bringing to life the Pilgrim Fathers’ story and
its implications.
 Links with the Mayflower trail towns of the United Kingdom will again bring the
benefits that flow from mutual interest.
Paintings from originals with the kind permission of John Gillo – The River Dart
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