Schönthal Monastery celebrates its 25th anniversary with new works by Richard Long, concerts and a birthday party.
Schönthal Monastery near Langenbruck in the Upper Basel region is idyllically situated in the middle of 100 hectares of forest, meadows and Jura countryside. Founder John Schmid was guided by the idea of creating a place on the site of the medieval monastery where art and nature could enter into a dialog. Today, the site offers a freely accessible sculpture park with over 30 contemporary works of art as well as changing exhibitions and cultural events. It also maintains a biodynamic farm. Schönthal Monastery became a veritable place of pilgrimage for the art scene in the summer of 2024, when the artist duo Gerda Steiner (*1967) and Jörg Lenzlinger (*1964) organized a large-scale installation project including an art happening entitled "Der eilige Geist kommt zur Ruhe".
Artist in Residence, Simone Steinegger © Simone Steinegger
The "Kloster Schönthal" association is now celebrating the 25th anniversary of this extraordinary cultural undertaking. It is taking the anniversary as an opportunity to offer art and nature lovers a varied cultural program. It is conceived in harmony with the cycle of the seasons. The British artist Richard Long (*1945), whose work "Cowshed Ellipse" can already be seen in the sculpture park, will kick things off in spring: he will create a new site-specific work in the church and in the monastery courtyard. From May 1 to December 7, 2025, these new works will be on display alongside other works from Richard Long's other creative periods.
In cooperation with the Basel Music Academy, musical festivals will also be held at the monastery at various times of the year: June 15, August 31 and December 7, 2025. The actual birthday celebrations will take place on August 31, 2025 with an open-air jazz concert and numerous guests who have helped shape this unique meeting place over the past 25 years. On December 7, 2025, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis invites you to ring in the winter with music. Followed by a reading with the author Alex Capus. In the anniversary year, Basel artist Simone Steinegger will have the opportunity to experience the monastery as artist in residence from spring to fall and use it as a source of inspiration for new artistic work.
Welsh artist David Nash (*1945), who is represented in the sculpture park with mighty charred works, has dedicated a new edition to the monastery to mark its birthday. By purchasing the limited edition "Four Seasons" prints, interested parties can actively support the work of the association.
Richard Long, Yellow mud on wall 2008, Richard Long, Cowshed Ellipse 2008, installation view at Schönthal Monastery; Photo: Judith Schlosse
Richard Long
His work Cowshed Ellipse in the former barn of the monastery has been a highlight of the sculpture park for almost 20 years. A site-specific work in the church, a clay mural and an outdoor sculpture in the monastery courtyard will be created from April 2025. Exhibition concept: Luca Selva in collaboration with Elsbeth Bisig, Galerie Tschudi Zuoz/Zurich.
Works Sculpture Park
Ilan Averbuch, Mirko Baselgia, Hamish Black, (Miriam Cahn), Tony Cragg, Martin Disler, Anton Egloff, Walter Fähndrich, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Nigel Hall, Nicola Hicks, Gottfried Honegger, Ben Jakober, Hans Josephsohn, Peter Kamm, Richard Long, Peter Nagel, David Nash, William Pye, Ulrich Rückriem, Barbara Schnetzler, (Roman Signer), Kurt Sigrist, Erik Steinbrecher, Steiner/Lenzlinger, Not Vital, Josua Wech.
Schönthal Monastery Sculpture Park © Schönthal Monastery Association
History of the Schönthals monastery
First mentioned in a document in 1145, the ecclesiastical building complex is nestled in the striking Jura landscape near Langenbruck in the Upper Basel region, around 30 minutes' drive from Basel. After the Benedictine monastery was forcibly secularized in 1525, the unworthy existence of the Romanesque monument as a woodshed and other profane uses came to an end thanks to private initiative and a renovation in 1987-89. A second renovation in 1999 made it possible to reopen the monastery to the public as a cultural meeting place. In 2001, initiator John Schmid transferred the Schönthal ensemble - land, monastery, courtyard, art - to the "Sculpture at Schoenthal" foundation. In 2018, the Schoenthal Foundation merged with the Edith Maryon Foundation in Basel. As part of the merger, the "Verein Kloster Schönthal" was founded. It is responsible for maintaining the sculpture park and the artistic program, including exhibitions, cultural events and hostel operations.
May 1 to December 7, 2025
www.schoenthal.ch
