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. 

Skip to course

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.

Please enter your postcode

In order for us to give you accurate results for your courses, please click on the Search options and enter your postcode and the mile radius for your search.

Refine search

How you'll learn

Your location

Please enter your postcode or town for your search in the boxes below.

We have defaulted the search to ten miles, but you can change this number in the box as you wish.

Sort by start date

Choose to sort the course start date in ascending order (furthest away dates first) or descending (most recent dates first)

Results per page

Days

Other Filters

Part of day
Level of study
Availability
Search for the branch name/location, without adding branch e.g. Barnet

Creative Writing: Writing to Music

Explore the connection between music and writing with our Creative Writing: Writing to Music course. Learn how to use music as inspiration for creative writing projects. Ideal for writers looking to experiment with new techniques and find fresh sources of inspiration.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 19/05/2025
Location:
Krowji (Redruth)
West Park
Redruth
TR15 3AJ
Course code:
Q00017002
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

Film & Media: World Cinema

Explore the diverse world of international cinema with our Film & Media: World Cinema course. Learn about key films, directors, and movements from around the globe. Ideal for film enthusiasts and anyone interested in expanding their cinematic knowledge.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 16/06/2025
Times:
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Daniel Williams
Course code:
Q00017948
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Music Appreciation: Music Analysis Intermediate

Apply existing knowledge and further develop your skills in music analysis! We will study both songs and instrumental music from a range of genres.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 21/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Lorna Poole
Course code:
Q00020684
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £81.40

Film Studies: 5 Films Charting the Rise and Fall of Woodfall Films

A fun and accessible course exploring Woodfall Films, the small British production company best remembered for its early 1960s output (A Taste of Honey etc) - But – whilst we revisit some of these films, made at the peak of the British New Wave (‘Kitchen Sink’) we also consider the look sound, feel and creative intentions behind a Woodfall film, going beyond the kitchen sink and consider the company’s other ‘more’ creative and sometimes ‘off the wall’ European influenced output such full colour ‘romp’ Tom Jones. What are the common features? What is it about a Woodfall film which appeals then and now?

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 02/06/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
George Cromack
Course code:
Q00021044
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Art Appreciation: Japonism: The Influence of Japanese Arts on Modern Art.

Explore the captivating influence of Japanese arts on European modern art in the second half of the 19th century in this 3-hour session. We’ll dive into how Japanese aesthetics and culture reshaped European art in the late 19th century, inspiring artists like Whistler, Van Gogh, Monet, Cassatt, and Redon. Through ukiyo-e prints, minimalism, and asymmetry, Japan’s artistic elements transformed Western approaches to composition, colour, and subject matter. The session aims to deepen your understanding of what “Japanism” was, when and how it happened, and the ways it impacted movements such as Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Art Nouveau. Perfect for art enthusiasts eager to trace the roots of cross-cultural exchanges that forever changed the trajectory of modern art.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 28/04/2025
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00021342
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10

Literature: British Women’s Short Stories 1980 to the Present

This five week course will explore British Women’s Short stories from the twentieth century. The five stories are: Mysterious Kor - Elizabeth Bowen. The House of the Famous Poet - Muriel Spark. Flesh and the Mirror - Angela Carter. The Lotus - Jean Rhys. My Wife is a White Russian - Rose Tremain. All texts are found in the recommended course text: The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories, edited by Malcolm Bradbury. These stories will introduce you to the richness of women’s authors throughout the last century and will give rise to lively discussions and analysis.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 02/06/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00021475
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Literature: The World of Ivor Gurney

This course will introduce one of the most fascinating of English poets from the period of the Great War. This is Ivor Gurney, poet and musician and friend of Edward Thomas. We will examine a range of his poetry, spanning his earliest work to those late poems that he wrote while committed to an asylum in the post-war years. We will discover his life, his friendships and his world, placing his poetry, music and madness in the context of his life and his world. The course will analyse his work in detail over five weeks and will provide ample scope for lively discussion.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 02/06/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00021487
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Literature: Literature Appreciation: 'Openings'

Openings present challenges. The beginning of a text is vital in terms of how it will intrigue a reader, 'set the scene' for them, play to, or subvert their expectations. Characters need to be established quickly, plot and its tensions set in motion, context established. We will be studying together how authors rise to these demands in the openings of novels, poetry and plays from Shakespeare to the modern day.  Through discussion and analysis together, we will assess the techniques writers use to shape our responses, and invite us into their work.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 29/04/2025 -
Tue 08/07/2025
Times:
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Clare Jackson
Course code:
Q00021453
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Literature: Five Korean Short Stories

This course will examine five Korean short stories and function as a taster-course to Korean literature in general, which has recently come to the fore with the award of the Nobel Prize to Han Kang. It will serve to broaden your appreciation of until recently a minority literature. We will analyse those elements which have contributed to Korea’s distinctive contribution to world literature in the last 100 years, and discuss the relationship between a politically troubled history and creativity, discovering as we do a range of male and female voices. There will be ample opportunities for discussion in what will be lively sessions.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 29/04/2025 -
Tue 27/05/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00021488
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Art and Music Studies: Anniversaries and Exhibitions

The course aims to encourage learners to attend art exhibitions and/or musical events with a greater background knowledge in order to enhance appreciation. If actual attendance is not possible, to undertake independent research and hence, enjoy a more active and cultural lifestyle. The class also offers an opportunity for learners to interact socially with like- minded people in intellectual pursuits. It also encourages learners to acquire critical and analytical skills through debate and discussion. The course covers all styles and periods from the Renaissance to the present day. It is multi media to accommodate diverse learning styles and preferences. It is suitable for beginners and connoisseurs alike.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 29/04/2025 -
Tue 10/06/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Ripley Arts Centre (Bromley)
24 Sundridge Avenue
Bromley
BR1 2PX
Tutor:
Andrew Rothwell
Course code:
Q00021629
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40