Spring Classes are OPEN for Registration!

Classes in film, music theater, literature, history, and more, taught by some favorite RENESAN presenters, are ready and waiting for you.

You can go directly to our new Eventbrite page to learn more and start signing up by clicking here. Bookmark our page to keep up to date with our latest offerings!

  • Presentation-style classes will take place at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 1050 Old Pecos Trail, which has abundant free parking, ADA-accessible seating, and state-of-the-art sound.
  • Discussion-style classes will take place at St. John’s United Methodist Church.
  • All classes will be two hours long, with a mid-session break.

More classes will be announced soon, on a rolling basis. Meanwhile, we look forward to welcoming you back to our community of lifelong learning!

P.S. If you’re a presenter who would like to offer a discussion-based class, especially in the field of literature, you may submit a proposal to us by clicking here.

Our History

RENESAN was established in 1996, when a group of Santa Fe residents decided to arrange academic courses for retired people. Through the years the educational nonprofit has developed its own identity, but, initially it drew heavily on programming offered by the International Elderhostel Institute  Network (now Road Scholars) and a Wisconsin-based organization called PLATO (Participating Learning And Teaching Organization).

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide a balanced and dynamic curriculum of courses, lectures, and trips focusing on classic and contemporary works from the fields of art, cultural studies, history, literature, music, performing arts, philosophy, political science, current events, and science. We strive to be inclusive, welcoming, and accessible to all members of the Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico communities.

Who We Are

We are a dynamic, constantly evolving nonprofit organization that provides courses, lectures, and trips in Santa Fe and throughout Northern New Mexico. Many of our students and faculty members are transplants from around the world who’ve led exciting personal and professional lives. RENESAN’s courses are taught at a high academic level by retired and active university professors and professionals, experts in their fields.

“I’ve heard so many people say RENESAN has changed their lives.”

“You have this incredible potpourri of classes you can dip into and be stimulated.”

“People enjoy this shared arena of intellectual exploration. It’s a community.”

RENESAN Land Acknowledgment

RENESAN Institute for Lifelong Learning acknowledges the traditional, ancestral, and unceded land of the Tewa people, who occupied O’ga P’ogeh Owingeh (White Shell Water Place) which we have the privilege to occupy today. We acknowledge this land as immigrants and visitors. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices that the original peoples have made, and understand that historical traumas cannot be undone. We will respect the culture and tradition that is sown throughout the land. We will actively seek to include Indigenous lecturers and presenters and will take concrete steps to provide culturally-relevant curriculum around contemporary and historical Indigenous issues.

© RENESAN, Santa Fe, NM. All photos by Daniel Quat Photography. Website by Kate Rollins Web Design, LLC.