We recognise that our Section covers a wide spectrum of culture, and our events in Britain include topics in the fields of Literature, History, Language, and the Arts.  We hold Conferences, Seminars, Lectures and Study Tours on themes of Shakespeare, Parzival, Renaissance Art, The Matter of Britain, Gender Issues, Poetics, Summer Courses on The Spirit of English, and the celebration of the Festivals.  Most of our events are open to the public, but we have also held study-days for members of the School of Spiritual Science on specific Class content.

The translation of the name of this Section corresponds to the traditional French academic term Belles Lettres, and while our friends in the US have taken the title Literary Arts and Humanities Section, we are working under the title Humanities Section.  This variety and fluidity of names reflects our openness to whatever arises in the spiritual-cultural life that so often connects to more than one discrete discipline.  As is also the case with other Sections there is a certain overlap of disciplines, but unlike the other Sections, we are very aware that there is no immediately obvious single profession that this Section connects with.  It is our wish to strengthen the inter-sectional work, and the Parzival conference in 2021 was an opportunity to collaborate with the Pedagogical Section.  We are pursuing the connection with the Arts Section for the Hilma af Klint event next June.

We have found over the last few years that there is more energy among the Members to support specific projects and events, rather than to commit to ongoing regular study work together.

Currently we are preparing an Easter Festival in London (6th - 9th April) connected with the work of Raphael.  The recent exhibition of his paintings in London inspired new research and fruitful collaboration. Following that on 3rd June we are organising a day conference on the work of Hilma af Klint, a selection of her work will be exhibited at the Tate Modern in London from 20th April to 3rd September.

Link: “A Festival for Easter” 6th - 9th April 2023

For further information please contact Andrew Wolpert  andrewjwolpertnoSpam@gmail.com  or Simon Blaxland-de Lange  simonnoSpam@pericles.org.uk