Dilettante Programme - Art History Abroad

Most of the Italian tours which we organise are tailor-made for groups of friends or professional colleagues. However, we have a very restricted mailing list of people to whom we write once or twice a year proposing trips.

The list is exclusive in the sense that it is made up of our particular friends and of people whom we have met on a tailor-made course and who we believe to be likely to add to the sum of human happiness because of their capacity for enthusiasm and their ability to entertain others.

In this way we hope to put together groups of people who will get on like a house on fire. We call the list The Dilettante Programme.

Dilettante was started by Robert Woodward, Ros Fishburn, Sarah Radcliffe and me some time ago.  Many of the arrangements for tours were made by Art History Abroad, an organisation also founded by Robert.

When Robert died in 2008, Ros and Sarah withdrew from the day to day organisation though they remain enthusiastic supporters.  Since then, we have run one tour to Sicily and reorganised ourselves by looking for an administrator. Happily, Charlotte Winton, a tutor and former manager with AHA, has come forward.

Charlotte (Charlie) could not be a better replacement.  She knew Robert well and is very experienced at organising tours. 

Nicholas Ross, November 2009