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: FilmAbility - Ipswich Rising: A Community United

This ""Filmability"" course engages students and long-term unemployed individuals in creating a short documentary film about Ipswich Town Football Club's community impact. This innovative project promotes collaboration, planning, literacy, and digital skills through hands-on filmmaking. Participants develop practical skills like resilience, teamwork, research, writing, and technical proficiency over ten days. The course covers identifying topics, scriptwriting, camera operations, filming, and editing. By the end, participants produce a documentary, enhancing their confidence and workplace readiness while celebrating ITFC's return to the Premier League and their own journey towards employment.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/07/2024 -
Fri 26/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
20 sessions
Location:
Ipswich County Library
Northgate Street
Ipswich
IP1 3DE
Tutor:
James Clarke
Course code:
Q00016757
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £168.00

Film & Media: How to Read Film

Part of the Free to All Summer Taster Courses: Do you like films and are keen to learn more and discuss them with like-minded enthusiasts? Have you wondered “How did they do that?” Or even more so “Why did that film make me feel like this? “Are you thinking about enrolling on one of the WEA’s film studies courses? Then this free taster session is for you. You’ll get equipped with some of the basics of “how to read a film” – the key elements of filmmaking and how they create (different) meanings, emotions and impacts on the viewer, enabling you analyse films with greater confidence.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 17/07/2024 -
Wed 17/07/2024
Times:
4:00pm - 7:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Ruth Mulandi
Course code:
Q00016976
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Waiting list
Fee:
Free

Art Appreciation: Art and About: Soho and its Heritage

Part of the WEA Art and About Festival 2024! As part of the WEA London Festival Art and About : A heritage walk through the heart of Soho meeting at Criterion Théâtre near Piccadilly Circus on Thursday July 18th meet at 11am ending near Tottenham Court Road Tube station Come and explore the Soho area famously known for its culture , yet their other interesting features institutions that exist in the area such as Churches , Old Hospitals and much more. We will explore how the area developed and why these are still important buildings today

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 18/07/2024 -
Thu 18/07/2024
Times:
11:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Meeting Point: Criterion Theatre
218-223 Piccadilly
St. James's
London
London
W1J 9HR
Tutor:
Selina Rice
Course code:
Q00014454
How you'll learn:
In venue
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £7.50

Creative Writing: Body Stories Workshop

This friendly four-hour creative writing workshop will invite you to enter into relationship with your bodies and surroundings. The session will be held in a supportive way and will integrate some simple yoga inspired movement (adaptable to all bodies), prompts for creative and reflective expression through writing, and even some environmental science! You will be guided to a holistic understanding of person and place. This course is ideal for people who like to write and to contemplate how to live more skilfully as individuals, as a community and in relationship with their surroundings. There will be time for sharing small parts of your writing towards the end of the workshop but no pressure, it’s about an unfolding individual/shared creative process and participants need to feel at ease to write freely.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 24/07/2024 -
Wed 24/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 2:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Ione Harris
Course code:
Q00014762
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Waiting list (Join waiting list)
Fee range
Free to £16.80

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

Music Making: African Drumming for All

African Drumming Workshop A great way to end the working week! Whether you are a seasoned drummer or just curious to have a go, this practical workshop in African drumming will inspire you with music and culture. Our experienced tutor will guide the group to play the Djembe drums to create simple beats and harmonies. Let go of stress and end the week on a high note!

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 26/07/2024 -
Fri 26/07/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
City Hall, Sunderland
Plater Way
Sunderland
SR3 2GJ
Tutor:
Mark Barfoot
Course code:
Q00015399
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

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

Part of the WEA Art and About Festival 2024! Art in the Olympic (North) Park Walking Tour explores the public artworks in the north 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 the first to have an artist-in-residence during its construction. 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 Copper Box Arena on Waterden Rd.

Course Information

Dates:
Sun 28/07/2024 -
Sun 28/07/2024
Times:
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Meeting Point: Copper Box Arena
Waterden Road
London
London
E20 3BS
Tutor:
Jolanta Jagiello
Course code:
Q00014695
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £10.00

Ways to Wellbeing: Prose for Wellbeing: reading and writing upbeat narratives for improved wellbeing

Writing prose is a powerful tool for enhancing one's well-being. Regularly writing down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences can help you process emotions, gain insights, and reduce stress. On this taster course you will be reading about life writing and fiction in short and abstract form with happy conclusions to support a positive outlook on life. You will also write your own memoir and fiction pieces to help you process negative beliefs and thought patterns that hold you back and deal with emotions more effectively. By the end of this taster course, you will gain some knowledge of prose and how it can be used to improve your overall well–being.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 30/07/2024 -
Tue 30/07/2024
Times:
2:30pm - 5:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Sarah Wardle
Course code:
Q00017576
How you'll learn:
Online and in venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10

Creative Writing: Writers’ Online Retreat: Write, Feedback, Progress!

Over 5 consecutive days, you’ll set an achievable goal, immerse yourself in 45 minutes of writing and get feedback from the tutor and peers when you share. Imagine the amount of work and momentum you’ll build over 5 days.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 05/08/2024 -
Fri 09/08/2024
Times:
10:00am - 11:30am
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Torode
Course code:
Q00017740
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £27.75

Creative Writing: Writing the City

This course will introduce you to techniques to bring a city alive in your stories, either fictional or non fiction, long or short form writing. This workshop consists of a blend of activities: writing exercises to practice your craft; close reading of extracts from published inspirational writers and teaching points on creative writing techniques. There is an opportunity to share your fresh words in small groups and receive gentle, appreciative feedback.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 07/08/2024 -
Wed 28/08/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Torode
Course code:
Q00017742
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Creative Writing: Writing Food

This 2-hour workshop will stimulate your imagination and palette for writing food stories from fiction, life writing and reportage. You will read published stories to provide inspiration and techniques to embellish your own writing. You can share your writing in pairs to give confidence and courage to write more.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 15/08/2024 -
Thu 15/08/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Torode
Course code:
Q00017741
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40