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: Film, Camera, Action! A walk through some of London’s film locations

Part of the WEA Art and About Festival 2024! We will walk from Victory Arch, Waterloo station, to the MI6 building in Vauxhall, stopping to consider a variety of places used as film locations and settings. The aim is to share knowledge about the production background and what these locations contribute to the storyline, atmosphere and style of each film. We will consider a range of films including The Bourne Ultimatum, A United Kingdom, Alfie, Trainspotting, and Skyfall.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 08/06/2024 -
Sat 08/06/2024
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Meeting point: Victory Arch (London)
Waterloo Station,
Waterloo Road,South Bank
London
SE1 8SW
Tutor:
Daniel Williams
Course code:
Q00014763
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £10.00

Film and Media: Special Effects in the Movies

Since the very earliest days of cinema, filmmakers have pushed technological developments in the industry through their desire to put the impossible on screen, giving audiences the opportunity to marvel at seemingly death-defying feats and depictions of sheer otherworldly imagination. Over five weeks we’ll pull back the curtain to make an in-depth study of over a century of special effects creativity in cinema, from the earliest simple trick shots to cutting-edge computer-generated images, from miniature cities, giant apes, animated antics, spaceships, and skeletons to digitally de-aged actors. The course makes use of a wide variety of clips and stills from classic and recent cinema and some overlooked masterpieces.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 10/06/2024 -
Mon 08/07/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Christopher Budd
Course code:
Q00015136
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Art Appreciation: Myths and Renowned Stories in Art, Literature and Music (part 4)

The course will explore the enriching links between stories, art and music, from ancient to modern times. Each week examples from a different epoch will be examined. Frequently, stories and art pieces are linked with pieces of music and the course will offer many opportunities to enjoy these music pieces.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 11/06/2024 -
Tue 16/07/2024
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Colin Lomas
Course code:
Q00012066
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £69.00

Art Appreciation: John Singer Sargent: At Once Modern and Classic

As Tate Britain puts on a show about Sargent and fashion, it is the perfect occasion to discover the life and career of this extraordinary painter. His art situates him in a paradoxical position, modern by some features, and classical based on some others. American, he lived in Italy, in France and mainly in England, where he became a sought-after portrait painter. But there is much more to Sargent than his portraits of wealthy patrons. We will also discover some of his impressionist paintings and his watercolours. In portraits as in landscapes, he always comes across as a brilliant painter.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 11/06/2024 -
Tue 11/06/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00015528
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
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  • Get priority online and phone booking for autumn courses (England only),
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Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

Art Appreciation: Lost Stars of the Renaissance - Art History

This is a very short workshop of two sessions of two hours. In this time, we will discuss in detail works from lesser-known painters of the Renaissance era. Since the High Renaissance is much better known, we will look at artists from the fifteenth century.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 12/06/2024 -
Wed 19/06/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kate Phillips
Course code:
Q00015123
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £14.80

Creative Writing: Creative Writing Group –  Sense of Place: Showing & Telling, part 2

Practice techniques for creating short stories, true or untrue. This is a continuation of the previous Friday morning course, though it is not necessary to have attended that course in order to do this one. We'll apply the principles of short fiction to our writing, with the focus this term on thinking about how point-of-view impacts on structure. There will be writing exercises, discussions, an optional weekly homework task and feedback. Guidance on feedback techniques will be provided. The course content has flexibility, and will be adapted to suit the needs of the group. Suitable for improvers. This course uses the same content as the Thursday morning fortnightly course, Sense of Place: Showing & Telling, and the Thursday morning course, Sense of Place: Showing & Telling.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 14/06/2024 -
Fri 26/07/2024
Times:
11:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Catherine Humphris
Course code:
Q00014014
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Waiting list (Join waiting list)
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Art Appreciation: Art and About: Hyde Park Statues and Monuments

Part of the WEA Art and About Festival! This is a walking tour of Hyde Park's statues and monuments. Hyde Park is 140 hectares in area. It is an historic Grade I-listed urban park in Westminster, Greater London. A Royal Park, it is the largest of the parks and green spaces that form a chain from Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, via Hyde Park Corner and Green Park, past Buckingham Palace to St James's Park. Hyde Park is divided by the Serpentine and the Long Water lakes. For several centuries Hyde Park has been enriched by the installation of many statues and monuments. Enjoy this leisurely stroll around the park and learn about its fascinating history. Meet 10.30 am on Friday 14 June 2024 in front of Apsley House - 149 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NT. NOTE The house is on the west side of Park Lane, at the south end, by Hyde Park underground station.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 14/06/2024 -
Fri 14/06/2024
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Meeting Point: Apsley House
149 Piccadilly
London
London
W1J 7NT
Tutor:
Colin Lomas
Course code:
Q00014317
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £10.00

Art Appreciation: Art and About: From Trafalgar Square to Westminster Bridge

Part of the WEA Art and About Festival 2024! A wonderful walking tour of central London. In central London there is a plethora of art which is visible in the streets. There are self-standing statues, statues carved on many buildings, ornamentations on buildings in every style – Gothic, classical, Baroque. Starting from Trafalgar Square we will enjoy the buildings starting with the National Gallery and Saint Martin-in-the-Field. From the square itself the route is down Whitehall, past many government buildings, to the sculptures in Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey, Saint Margaret’s, the Palace of Westminster. The tour will finish on Westminster bridge, enjoying the splendid views of old and new buildings. On the tour you will learn about architectural styles and many famous people. Meet 2.00 pm on Friday 14 June 2024 on the pavement by the main entrance to the National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 14/06/2024 -
Fri 14/06/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Meeting Place:The National Gallery (Lond
Trafalgar Square
London
WC2N 5DN
Tutor:
Colin Lomas
Course code:
Q00014296
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £10.00

Art Appreciation-'Art History and Sketching Tour: Southampton City Art gallery'.

This course will take place in Southampton City Art Gallery, which has the most extensive collection of art in the region. The collection covers six centuries of European Art in a stunning 1930’s building, part of the civic complex, and Southampton’s cultural quarter. The course will begin with a tour of art on display, featuring highlights in an interactive discussion. The Gallery is fully accessible, with lightweight portable seats; participants will be encouraged to select a few artworks to sketch – suitable for complete beginners as tuition on this will be given during the session. Be inspired by this world class collection on our doorstep and meet likeminded people in a stimulating setting

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 15/06/2024 -
Sat 15/06/2024
Times:
10:15am - 1:15pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Southampton City Art Gallery - Education
Civic Centre
Commercial Road
Southampton
SO14 7LP
Tutor:
Abi Kremer
Course code:
Q00014824
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.60

Art Appreciation: Introduction to Early Renaissance Painting

This course is an introduction to ways of viewing paintings made in Europe in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The course that uses a selected number of paintings to provide a basis for the beginnings of an appreciation and understanding of some of the seminal ideas in aesthetics and philosophy of the period. The selection will encourage a focus on the paintings with specific themes and attentions; from the early use of artificial perspective and proportions to involvement in a world that represents the complexity of thought with feelings The course will include a study of selected works by Giotto and Masaccio, Jan van Eyck. and Rogier van der Weyden, Piero della Francesca and Sandro Botticelli, Andrea Mantegna and Giovanni Bellini.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 18/06/2024 -
Tue 09/07/2024
Times:
11:15am - 12:45pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Allen Fisher
Course code:
Q00011869
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £22.20