Love to learn with the WEA

Our languages and culture courses span the length and breadth of England and Scotland, with the option to study online or in person at a time that suits you. Whether you’re looking to learn a new language and immerse yourself in another country, or you simply wish to indulge in your love and fascination of film, we have the course for you. 

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Our creative writing courses will nourish your inner writer, providing you with a platform to develop your love of poetry, non-fiction or script development. If literature courses are more your kind of thing, then you’re in luck too, as there are a wide range of topics to choose from.  

Literary greats and great periods in history

Our language courses offer you the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in a completely new culture, developing your skills so that you can speak confidently in countries right across the world. German, Italian and Greek are just a few examples of the language courses we have to offer, with many others taking place throughout the year.  

As you’d expect, literary greats such as Agatha Christie and Shakespeare feature regularly. There’s also the option to examine other time periods in English literature too, helping you develop your critical reading and analysis skills - perfect whether you’re a beginner or more experienced in the subject.  

If you prefer history then you’ve got a choice too, from courses on subjects you’d expect such as the first world war, or art history and studying the works of iconic painters such as Salvador Dali. 

Support and guidance

Whatever course you choose, you'll learn in a supportive environment where the class sizes are small, ensuring you get the attention you deserve, with an experienced and qualified tutor on-hand to guide you through your learning too.  

A lot of our cultural learning is delivered by our branch network: learn more here.

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Film & Media: Films for Wellbeing

‘Feel good’ movies are more than a cliché. We’re learning more and more about all the ways in which art and creativity are good for our health – from art and music therapy to reading on prescription. Watching films can be good for your well-being, too. In this brand-new 4-week course, we’ll explore together what films are good for our health and how. We’ll look at a different range of films from different genres that could all in their way help us maintain and manage our well-being.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 01/07/2024 -
Mon 22/07/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Ruth Mulandi
Course code:
Q00014311
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Art Appreciation: The Blue Rider, German Expressionism

Part of the Free Taster Courses for All; this course is an Introduction to the Expressionist Movement and the Blue Rider Art Group. Expressionism is a key art movement of the early 20th century, which developed from 1905 in Germany and Austria. In this session, you will learn about one of the Expressionist groups, The Blue Rider. Centred around Munich and Murnau, the artists of this group developed a colourful and free style of painting. Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, Gabriele Munter, Alexei von Jawlensky, Marianne von Werefkin, August Macke and Paul Klee used strong colours and boldly simplified forms to express themselves. If you have ever wondered what is Expressionism, how it started and developed, and why these artists painted in such a way, this course is for you!

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 05/07/2024 -
Fri 05/07/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00016974
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Fee:
Free

Art Appreciation: Art and About: Art in the Olympic (South) Park - Walking Tour

Part of the WEA Art and About Festival 2024! Art in the Olympic (South) Park Walking Tour explores the public artworks in the south side of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is the first Olympic Park to integrate artworks into the landscape right from the start by established and emerging artists, international and local, which reflects the Park’s identity and is the home to West Ham’s Football Stadium. Discover artworks that are both large and striking, whilst others are smaller and harder to find, inspired by the undulating landscape, riverside, buried histories, community memories, and Olympic glory. The meeting point is the ArcelorMittal Orbit by Sir Anish Kapoor.

Course Information

Dates:
Sun 07/07/2024 -
Sun 07/07/2024
Times:
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Meeting Point: ArcelorMittal Orbit (Lond
Queen Elizabeth Olymipic Park,
London
E20 2AD
Tutor:
Jolanta Jagiello
Course code:
Q00014493
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £10.00

Art Appreciation: Art Copies, Forgeries and Fakes (Free London Taster)

Part of the London Summer Free Taster courses; This 3 hour, taster course explores the difference between an artwork which is copied, forged, or faked. The men and women behind them, the reasons they did it, which famous artists and artworks they choose, the money they made from their sale, how they were caught, and the punishment they received. Whether they were disillusioned artists fooling art experts or simply hardened criminals committing art crimes, the art market is still saturated with copies, fakes, and forgeries. Do you think you could spot the difference between the original among the fake? Test yourself with this taster.

Course Information

Dates:
Sun 07/07/2024 -
Sun 07/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jolanta Jagiello
Course code:
Q00017181
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
2 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
  • Access an archive of over 100 past lectures,
  • Get priority online and phone booking for autumn courses (England only),
  • Receive our Highway magazine and access back issues,
  • Attend our members’ annual conference.

Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

Film & Media: Video editing for community organisations

Having a social media presence has become an essential element of attracting group members, funding and as a tool to promote information and awareness of issues important to communities. In a previous course, Washington Support Group for Men filmed footage relating to their organisation and it’s aims. This short course is designed to introduce learners who are involved in this established community group to the process of editing and producing a video. The video can then be shared to an audience in person or online through platforms such as Facebook or YouTube. This may be for promotional purposes, or to provide evidence of activities to potential funders or the wider public.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 08/07/2024 -
Mon 29/07/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Washington Millennium Centre (WASHINGTON
The Oval
Concord
WASHINGTON
NE37 2QD
Tutor:
Graham Smith
Course code:
Q00015094
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

Creative Writing: Writing from the Heart

This is a free taster course focusing on your personal experiences and how these experiences may form the basis not only for autobiography and memoir, but for autobiographical fiction and poetry. The course will be composed sections, with a break; each designed to explore one or more areas of personal writing, through discussion, hands-on writing experiments and guidance on how to improve technical aspects of your prose or poetry. By the conclusion of the course you will have completed an introduction to one or two pieces of writing. The course will be mutually supportive, stimulating and a good introduction to further creative writing courses with the popular tutor Stephen Smith.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 08/07/2024 -
Mon 08/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00016649
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee:
Free

Art Appreciation: Laura Knight: A Life in Art

Part of the Free to All Taster Courses: A focus on Laura Knight: As Tate Britain puts on an exhibition about British women artists this summer, it seemed important to come back on a key British painter from the 20th century, Laura Knight. In this session we wil look at her life, career, art style and influences. Knight showed exceptional talent from an early age, and all her life, executed brilliant paintings and drawings. She was committed to a realist style, which often put her at odds with the avant-garde. She was however, popular, and in 1936 she became a Royal Academician, the first women to gain this honour since the foundation of the RA in 1768.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 08/07/2024 -
Mon 08/07/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00016969
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee:
Free

Film & Media: Introduction to World Cinema (Free London Taster)

Part of the London Free Taster Courses; Do join us for this introduction to a selection of films from around the world. This course offers an overview of global cinema traditions, looking at sections of films from different cultures and regions. We will consider a range of films, from classics to contemporary cinema . There will discussion on the style and meaning of diverse extracts drawing on key ideas from Film Studies and you will learn about some of the Key directors from major film movements. Topics include how historical context effects the development of cinema in different countries and how film reflects societal norms and cultural identities.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 08/07/2024 -
Mon 08/07/2024
Times:
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Daniel Williams
Course code:
Q00017167
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
5 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Film & Media: 5 BBC Films Revisited

A friendly and accessible exploration boasting a second offering of five more recent cinematic works produced by BBC Film, promoting knowledge, understanding and appreciation and confidence regarding film and cinema, also literacy skills, critical thinking and well-being in general. We examine, discuss and compile a critical journal reviewing a selection works from BBC Film promoting knowledge, understanding and appreciation of film but also critical thinking, literacy skills and well-being, considering running themes and techniques whilst also highlighting specialist language and terminology, advancing literacy, communication skills and confidence in delivering informed feedback.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 10/07/2024 -
Wed 31/07/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
George Cromack
Course code:
Q00015238
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Art Appreciation: Elizabeth Thompson (aka Lady Butler), and other Victorian Women Artists

Part of the Free Taster Courses to All. This course looks at Painter Elizabeth Thompson. As Tate Britain puts on an exhibition about British women artists this summer, it is the perfect occasion to present a significant Victorian painter, who was famous for her battle paintings. As we do so, we will also highlight other Victorian women who became successful professional painters such as Emily Mary Osborn and Evelyn De Morgan. They lived in a society that globally remained hostile to independent career women. We will see how they trained, and how Thompson, and others, balanced the pressure of social norms and their personal ambition.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 10/07/2024 -
Wed 10/07/2024
Times:
12:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00016971
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Fee:
Free