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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Art Appreciation: The Art of Diplomacy: Behind the doors of the Government Art Collection

Go behind the scenes of the Government Art Collection, a less well-known national art collection, with Chantal Condron, a former curator at the Collection. Discover the fascinating origins of its history, and the people and events that have shaped its past. Explore how and why artworks are acquired or commissioned and discover some of the locations where they have been displayed. We explore works across a range of media from paintings to film, by artists from the 16th to the 21st centuries, including Marcus Gheerhaerts the Younger, Thomas Phillips, Bridget Riley, Michael Armitage and 2024 Turner Prize winner, Jasleen Kaur.
Dates:
Tue 13/05/2025 -
Tue 01/07/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Christchurch United Reform Church (Chelm
164 New London Road
Chelmsford
CM2 0AW
Tutor:
Chantal Condron
Course code:
Q00021144
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

Creative Writing: Story Surgery

For writers with a collection of stories or well into a memoir or novel to bring to the course for doctoring! This surgery helps you see the bigger picture, patch up those plot holes and feel re-energised about the body of work you have! There’s nothing more frustrating than writing a lot and then not knowing how it coheres or where it’s heading – and no, it’s not the bottom drawer! A mix of sharing, reflective questions to help you see the piece anew and craft notes. The tutor shares mentor texts to inspire you with ways to resuscitate the text: from chronological, novella-in-flash, linked stories and more to stimulate your best thinking and writing.
Dates:
Wed 14/05/2025 -
Wed 04/06/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Torode
Course code:
Q00021877
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Creative Writing: From Fact to Fiction: Stories inspired by headlines

Unleash your imagination by responding to the headlines with your own fictional version of events. This is a highly stimulating course and fascinating to see where you take the prompt, as well as how others respond. The tutor provides a wealth of headlines from diverse media sources and offers published mentor texts to stimulate your imagination and analyse elements of story craft. You’ll have dedicated writing time, the opportunity to share in pairs and receive feedback from peers and the tutor provides written feedback on one piece. What’s great is this is an excellent creative practice to keep up, long after the course has finished.
Dates:
Wed 14/05/2025 -
Wed 04/06/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Torode
Course code:
Q00021878
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Art Appreciation: Art and the Arts in 1960s

An oversimplified view but still a very useful one is that in the 1950s there was still largely a respect for “tradition”. By contrast the 1960s saw challenges to all traditions and conventions. In many areas of public and private life, traditional conventions were challenged. In the theatre world, “kitchen sink drama” appeared. In the visual arts, artists produced even more abstract individualistic products, with “installations” replacing paintings and sculpture. Music became even more experimental. In the course, these developments and many others will be illustrated, including projects of the decade which we still enjoy.
Dates:
Thu 15/05/2025 -
Thu 19/06/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Colin Lomas
Course code:
Q00017378
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £72.00

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Care 2: The Art of Romanovs - The Imperial Jewels

This course is for carers, those who have cared, and the cared for. We will be looking at the history and design of the Romanov Imperial Jewels including the famous Faberge Easter Eggs.
Dates:
Sat 17/05/2025 -
Sat 17/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 11:30am
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jolanta Jagiello
Course code:
Q00021817
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Care 2: Women Artists - The Impressionists

This course is for carers, those who have cared, and the cared for. Study the contribution of three women artists to the Impressionist movement in early 20th Century.
Dates:
Sat 24/05/2025 -
Sat 24/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 11:30am
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jolanta Jagiello
Course code:
Q00021821
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Care 2: Sensations - The Young British Artists (YBAs)

This course is for carers, those who have cared, and the cared for. Study the YBAs - Young British Artists of the 1990s who dominated the British Art scene with their 'shock tactics' which drew considerable media attention
Dates:
Sat 31/05/2025 -
Sat 31/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 11:30am
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jolanta Jagiello
Course code:
Q00021792
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Art Appreciation: Modern Architecture

This 6-week course takes you on a journey through the evolution of modern architecture, starting with the Art Nouveau movement of the late 19th century and culminating in the bold works of Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid. We’ll explore key architectural movements, including Art Deco, Bauhaus, Modernism, and Brutalism, highlighting their cultural significance, design principles, and iconic buildings. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how architecture reflects social, political, and technological changes, and how architects challenge traditional forms to shape the skylines of today. Ideal for architecture enthusiasts and those curious about the evolution of built space.
Dates:
Mon 02/06/2025 -
Mon 07/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00021430
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Literature: The Golden Age of British Crime Fiction

This course will explore the period known as The Golden Age of British Crime Fiction. We will discuss the following four novels over an eight week period: A Murder is Announced - Agatha Christie. The Crime at Black Dudley - Margery Allingham. Whose Body - Dorothy L. Sayers. The Daughter of Time - Josephine Tey. Our discussions will focus on the relationships between the authors and their crime solvers, the presentation of class and manners and the British fascination with murder which effloresces during the first 50 years of the twentieth century. Come along and enjoy lively discussions of these sometimes familiar texts.
Dates:
Mon 02/06/2025 -
Mon 21/07/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00021478
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £59.20

Art Appreciation: Art in Australia: Past and Present

This online course offers an in-depth exploration of the rich and diverse artistic traditions of Australia, spanning thousands of years. You will discover the country’s fascinating artistic heritage, from ancient Aboriginal rock art—dating back over 28,000 years—to contemporary works that reflect the cultural evolution of the region. We will examine both Indigenous artistic traditions (such as bark painting) and the European influences that arrived with colonisation (such as Impressionist landscape painting), analysing how these styles interact and shape Australian art today. This course provides an engaging and thought-provoking introduction. Join us for a journey through Australia's unique artistic landscape! No previous knowledge required.
Dates:
Mon 02/06/2025 -
Mon 07/07/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00021431
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40