Northern Ireland Region
Ireland Region
Scottish Region
English/Welsh Region
VOLUME 22
SPRING 2016
Welcome We mark a special moment on Easter Sunday 27th March this year for it is 50 years since Dr Karl König, Camphill’s founder, died in Germany having moved from Scotland in 1964. Richard Steel’s account of the last months of his busy life is well described on the back page and it is interesting to note that many in the curative education and social therapy movement and beyond wondered at that time if Camphill would continue without its remarkable and indefatigable leading influence. Perhaps it was his interest in the lives of young people and what they wanted to do in the world which included the disabled person keen to learn new skills which helped. These students, residents and volunteers who stayed on in The Camphill Schools and Villages putting future careers to one side in many cases, provided the vital support needed to The Camphill Movement worldwide in its cultural, social and working life. That deed saw the communities flourish and diversify, the first Camphill urban community in 1969, a resident led initiative, a college, The Mount in Sussex in 1971, communities in such countries as Norway and France. Young people are a cornerstone for the future of Camphill and it is held dear by many communities who organise courses and Introduction Groups, learning the important procedures and responsibilities that are required as well as something of the philosophy of Camphill. This includes the remarkable story of its founder Dr. Karl König and his Youth Group Colleagues and his coming to Britain from Austria as a refugee, a topical subject indeed for our time. I hope you enjoy this Spring Edition of Camphill Pages! Vivian Griffiths.
A close up of the ‘Wave’.
Volunteers working on the stained-glass panels for St Mary’s hospital IOW.
SEAHORSES ART STUDIO ‘Reaching out’ from community into the locality with Art projects. The Art Studio at Seahorses is a well known local resource which offers weekly lessons in a variety of techniques ranging from drawing to glass-fusing. Once a week it has an open-door session where anyone can come and join in without any commitment and this is popular due to the social element. Every now and again the Studio runs courses which are also very popular
and occasionally we receive commissions for mosaics and stained-glass. Some of these commissions have been for private clients whilst others are for public spaces. As a rule, once the design has been worked on and eventually accepted the art-piece becomes a project with many people becoming involved and active; in fact many of the commissions would not have been
completed without the help of local volunteers. In this respect Seahorses Art Studio is unique on the island (if not further afield) as a creative hub where there is an interaction between companions with learning disabilities, volunteers and the public. Continued on page 2...
WORLD WIDE WEAVE EXHIBITION - THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP AT NEW LANARK?
Read Peter Bateson’s special account on Page 08.
See page 14.
Pages is the newsletter of the Association of Camphill Communities UK and Ireland www.camphill.org.uk