Matthias Niedermann and Sebastian Knust are part of the organizing group for the big celebration in Stuttgart to mark the hundredth anniversary of Rudolf Steiner’s death. The venue is the Schlossplatz, a huge, open, public square situated along the mile of shops in the heart of the Swabian capital.
Wolfgang Held: The festival on the Schlossplatz is for the general public as well as the anthroposophical community. How are you managing such a balancing act?
Sebastian Knust Yes, the event is designed for a public audience. We want to reach people who might never have heard the word “anthroposophy” before or who have come into contact with it, maybe at the doctor’s office or in a Waldorf school, and want to learn more, for example, about anthroposophy’s cognitive practice. We also want to reach those just walking along the Schlossplatz, which is very busy on the weekends. There are a number of introductory events for people to participate in, for example, a eurythmy performance or a small tasting of biodynamic products in the Demeter area. The aim throughout is to make the basic ideas of anthroposophy tangible and understandable. However, the event is also aimed at people who are already familiar with anthroposophy and would like to experience our diverse offerings of panels and forums to expand and deepen their knowledge!
How was it to work with the city of Stuttgart?
Matthias Niedermann Planning an event in a public place like Stuttgart’s Schlossplatz involves a number of administrative procedures, applications, and stipulations. In our case, we even had to negotiate with two different levels of government: the city of Stuttgart, which owns Königstrasse, and the state of Baden-Württemberg, which administers the Schlossplatz. There are many challenges, like fire safety, for example: open fires or even just candles under an outdoor tent are a real difficulty these days! Nevertheless, we will put a lot of love and care into shaping the many event spaces we’re planning. We also hired an event company to help out. Actually, the fact that we’re planning an anthroposophical event in such a public place was very interesting to the government officials.
At the Goetheanum, we’ve been using the phrase “commemorative year,” but you decided to call it a “festival year.” What’s the difference?
Knust We also considered this wording during our preparations. “Commemorative year” makes sense when we’re looking specifically at the person Rudolf Steiner. But we decided we wanted to look at the current life and activity of Steiner’s ideas and the future-oriented direction of the work he left us, alongside the commemoration of his personal legacy. We also found it important to celebrate the more than hundred-year development of the whole anthroposophical movement. The movement didn’t decrease after Steiner’s death but developed further over the years in all the various fields, helping to shape society. There was no assurance in 1925 that the various fields would continue. The ideas that Steiner brought into the world—for instance, that the real future of civilization will be shaped by humanity’s capacity for cognition and empathy—these are still very relevant for us today and we have to continuously implement them anew. So, with all this we felt we wanted to bring a celebratory mood this year, and we’re calling the event on Schlossplatz the “2025 Steiner Jubilee” [2025 Steiner-Jubiläum].
How many initiatives do you have on board?
Niedermann For many years, a number of groups have been working together in the Alliance of Anthroposophical Associations and Organizations [Allianz anthroposophischer Verbände und Organisationen], including: the Union of Independent Waldorf Schools [Bund der freien Waldorschulen], Anthropoi Federal Association [Anthropoi Bundesverband], Demeter, Association of Waldorf Kindergartens [Vereinigung der Waldorfkindergärten], The Christian Community, the Society of Anthroposophical Doctors in Germany [Gesellschaft Anthroposophischer Ärztinnen und Ärzte in Deutschland], Active Health [Gesundheit Aktiv], Info3, Friends of the Art of Education [Freunde der Erziehungskunst], and many more. Most of these organizations will have a tent with workshops, activities, and information. The OMNIBUS for Direct Democracy, GLS Bank, Sonett, and several other companies, other initiatives, and many creative people will also be there. I think we’ve put together a good variety with something for every age and every field of interest.
Which is more important to you: looking back or looking ahead?
Niedermann I think both are important, and we could even add a third. The future lives in the past; there’s no future without a past. With the Steiner Jubilee, we’re turning toward the public, which requires an inner quality I’d call spiritual presence and relationability. Combining all three of these is a great challenge. It’s impressive to see the diversity that’s emerged over the last hundred years of anthroposophical development, and we certainly want to show that! But we’re also facing a multitude of challenges: digitalization, climate change, and the many individual and social crises. Ideas inspired by anthroposophy can offer important approaches that expand our horizons.
During your preparations, what was something that surprised you or was particularly satisfying?
Knust We had all kinds of experiences during the preparations. In general, it’s actually been quite challenging because, as far as I know, the Anthroposophical Society in Germany has never put on such a large-scale event in such a public place before, especially one like Stuttgart’s Schlossplatz! We’ve been really happy that so many people from our partner institutions have been so active in supporting us and planning their tents, all the way down to the details of setting up and deciding on the schedule of programs. This felt like confirmation that we’re on the right track with this event. So now we’ll just send out a warm welcome to everyone: we invite you to come to this unique location to experience our multifarious event and take part in the Steiner Jubilee!
Event 2025 Steiner Jubilee, Schlossplatz, Stuttgart, March 28–30
More 2025 Steiner Jubiläum
Translation Joshua Kelberman
