Bohemia in East Chaldon | Mark Damon Chutter
Join Mark Damon Chutter — Chairman and Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society and committee member of Visible Women UK — for a fascinating exploration of the remarkable writers and artists who once called East Chaldon home.
This unique event delves into the lives and legacies of figures such as Valentine Ackland, Sylvia Townsend Warner, members of the Powys family, and sculptor Elizabeth Muntz — a vibrant circle often seen as a mini-Bloomsbury group of the 1920s and 1930s.
Mark will examine themes of gender representation and sexual identity in their work, highlighting how these groundbreaking creatives challenged societal norms and shaped the literary and artistic landscape of Dorset and beyond.
As a passionate advocate for visibility in the arts, Mark also supports the upcoming crowdfunded statue of Sylvia Townsend Warner, created by sculptor Denise Dutton, which will be unveiled in Dorchester on Sunday, 14 December 2025 — a major step in recognising Warner’s influence and enduring legacy.
Mark Damon Chutter is the Chairman and Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society. He has published papers in the Thomas Hardy Journal and for the Times Educational Supplement (TES). He has been teaching for over 30 years as a Drama and English specialist and was shortlisted for the TES’s ‘Most Innovative Teacher of the Year’ and ‘Teacher of the Year’ awards.
