WEA courses

This is a taster / enrollment session for our short course "Money Management & Budgeting for ESOL Learners" that will be running at Littlehampton JCP from 12 July. This short course is designed for ESOL learners who want to learn more about the language and skills that will help you manage your money, make good shopping decisions, and understand budgeting. The course will look at the principles of managing money in everyday situations like comparing prices on the high street, working out the best deal for transport to get to work or learning, or the cost of cooking a meal.

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.

Effective budget planning can make you feel like you’ve had a pay rise. Organising your personal budget and understanding your outgoings is the first step towards healthy financial well-being. And the good news is - budgeting is a skill anyone can learn. This budgeting course is right for you if you want to improve your financial well-being. Whether you’re trying to cope with the cost of living crisis or just want to plan your finances better, this course can help you. You do not need advanced maths skills to take this course. It is appropriate for complete beginners, so don’t worry if this is new to you.

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.

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.

The day course is for anyone interested in advancing their landscape painting skills through a more abstract perspective. While open to participants of all levels, having some prior experience in painting would be beneficial. In a friendly and supportive group, the tutor will take us through gathering visual references, sketching, colour work and creating a landscape piece of work in your chosen media. Participants will have the opportunity to express their creativity and experiment with abstract approaches under the guidance of the tutor. Over the day we will spend time out in the landscape, where possible, taking photos and sketch book work. The aim is to explore abstract approaches and create an abstract landscape work.

*Please note - this course is specifically for residents of West Sussex as part of the local Multiply project. Please do not apply for this course if you do not live in West Sussex - thanks for your understanding* Explore the art of bookbinding with a twist of mathematics in our Basic Book Binding course. Discover the fundamental techniques of creating beautiful, handcrafted books while integrating essential mathematical principles. From calculating spine width to precision measuring for cover alignment, you'll learn how mathematical concepts enhance the functional structure and aesthetics of your bindings. Enjoy these hands-on sessions where you'll master stitching, folding, and gluing, transforming sheets of paper into beautiful personalised books. Whether you're a novice or seasoned crafter, this course promises to elevate your bookbinding skills while developing your understanding of the mathematical concepts inherent in book-binding.

Are you looking for work in the UK or thinking of starting work in the UK? If you have never worked in the UK or worked abroad but limited experience of working in the UK, this course is for you. The course is designed to support to improve your spoken and written English when thinking about your work skills and the type of work you are interest in. You will take part in mock interviews and help each other to practice your English through informal activities and discussion to prepare you for the world of work and improve your confidence.

Drawing from Nature: A One-Day Course at the Russell Cotes Museum. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of natural artistry with our one-day "Drawing from Nature" course, proudly taking place at the Russell Cotes Museum. This unique experience invites you to explore the intricate beauty of the natural world through the lens of art. In this intensive workshop, you will be guided by an experienced artist to hone your observational skills and artistic techniques. The course is designed to cater to all levels, from beginners to seasoned artists, ensuring a supportive and enriching learning environment for everyone.

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!