A Reflection on the Birth of the Anthroposophical Studies Program in English

This year marks the 20th birthday of the Anthroposophical Studies which some of you attended for one year or perhaps two years at the Goetheanum. Starting in October 2001, the program became international. Since a bit of my biography is woven into these 20 years, I can share with you why it started.

---

When I was called into the Executive Council in 1984, I soon realized that although the Goetheanum serves as the world center for the Anthroposophical Society - which even then had a presence in many countries - the only language which a visitor met was German. Also, there were no signs in any other language to indicate the rooms, offices, restrooms or otherbuildings on the grounds.

For many years however, an “English Week” occurred every summer. More and more people expressed a desire to have an opportunity to study and experience lectures, seminars, and artistic activities, in English as their mother-tongue or an acquired language. Soon I realized that this situation had to be met, however, the beginning was delayed by 10 years - from 1991 to 2001. It was because the Section for the Performing Arts needed a Leadership which fell to me. I experienced this decade with joy and gratitude for the many artistic initiatives that arose and the wonderful artists who participated in them.

From the beginning of the English Studies in 2001, the curative eurythmist Jeanne Winstanley (†2013) played an important role for the students. Those who knew her will remember that she was never too busy to invite a student for a cup of tea and conversation. On all of our trips - Chartres, Florence and shorter day trips - she was with us.

Some of the teachers who have contributed substantially since the early years of the program,whom you will remember, are Johannes Kühl, Oliver Conradt, Paul Mackay, Esther Gerster, Sophia Walsh, Sylvia Baur, Thomas Didden, Thorwald Thiersch, Astrid Prokofieff, Douglas Miller, Nick Thomas (†2015), Sergej Prokofieff (†2016) and Philip Martyn (†2021). Besides exceptional teachers from the Goetheanum, teachers from other continents also offered courses, such as Herbert Hagens from the USA who continues to be actively engaged with a yearly course on Rudolf Steiner's Mystery Dramas. All of you experienced various approaches to Anthroposophy and to painting, eurythmy, speech formation, clay modeling, natural science and to various special themes. In 2014, Joan Sleigh joined the Executive Council and the Anthroposophical Studies, bringing new impulses into the work with the students. Even though she now lives again in South Africa, she is still very connected with the program.

Due to knee operations in 2018, I withdrew from teaching in the program, with the exception of several one-week special subject courses. Constanza Kaliks, Robin Schmidt, Bodo von Plato, Matthias Rang, and Edda Nehmiz formed a collegium soon after, which insured that the work could continue. For this I am very grateful. The program now encompasses English, German, Spanish and Portuguese.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought significant challenges in the course. The classroom sessions could no longer take place. The foreign students were already at the Goetheanum when it was closed for months due to the lockdown. Here, I wish to give a special word of appreciation to Edda Nehmiz and the teachers who did not give up! Edda worked tirelessly through the available technical means possible to see how the courses could reach the students already in residence at the Goetheanum and those who had returned to their home countries. Through reaching out with on-line courses, an opportunity is given to people who wish to be connected with the Goetheanum even if they could not take up a study on-site under any circumstances. Of course, everyone realizes that technology can never replace personal interaction, especially in teaching, however defeat would not be the answer!

In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has ever been connected with the Anthroposophical Studies - students, teachers, administrators, Executive Council, Section Leaders and friends who contributed financially to the scholarship fund which enabled many serious students for over 20 years to have an experience at the Goetheanum of Anthroposophy and Rudolf Steiner’s many initiatives arising from it. It has been and continues to be an inspiration for meeting and greeting life with its joy and challenges for our time.

---

---