WEA courses

Discover the art of precision and creativity in our Sewing for Business Course. Dive into the fundamentals of machine sewing, mastering essential techniques and garment construction. From threading the needle to embellishing, you'll gain hands-on experience and the confidence to bring your design ideas to life. In parallel, embark on a beginner business journey, learning the basics of entrepreneurship for a sewing venture. Explore market trends, pricing strategies, and customer engagement to turn your passion into a profitable enterprise. Join us for a transformative learning experience that blends craftsmanship with entrepreneurial acumen, equipping you for success in the world of sewing and business.

Dante’s Inferno, one of the masterpieces of Western literature, is structured as a journey Dante takes through the different levels of Hell, observing the souls damned for various kinds of self-centred actions (sins) while alive, providing us with a series of insightful images and dramas, taking us deep into the psychological depths of humanity. The course takes us through the 34 cantos of Dante’s Inferno, progressing slowly so we can question, discuss and savour the literary features and the vision of human nature presented in the poem.

Enhance your artistic skills with our Art Practical: Intermediate Art Practical course. Learn advanced techniques for drawing, painting, and mixed media. Ideal for artists looking to refine their abilities and explore new creative approaches.

This course will focus on a geographical area that may be intriguing for many of us: the North of Europe. Lately, in films and TV series, novels, and design, the Nordic touch has been quite popular. What about the visual arts? If you would like to know more about the history of Nordic art, this course is for you! In this course, you will learn about artists from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. We will cover Viking objects, Norwegian stave churches, Danish and Swedish medieval church frescoes, Finish national romantic painting and the Skagen painters. We will also study the art and craft of the Sami people.

This course is for learners with Mental Health Conditions from the South Asian Community. Learners are service users – at day service funded by Adult Social Care in Leicestershire and Loughborough . Learners have low levels of self-confidence, co-occuring morbidities such as depression. Learners tend to get stressed and anxious – this could be due to multiple factors such as side effects from medications taken, as a result of social isolation due to stigma associated with mental health issues and as a result of the condition(s) itself. Family members and team leaders have identified the positive impact of engaging in learning activities focussed on Art. The tutor incorporates breathing exercises to ensure learners are prepared at the start of each session to learn effectively and manage their stress. This course is part of a wider learning programme to develop their confidence for life and support their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

In this course, we will focus on a key component of art: colour. We will seek to understand what colours are made of, how they were chosen, and how they work altogether in a composition, and what they mean for the viewers. As we study examples from Ancient Egypt to contemporary art, this fascinating subject will take us beyond traditional art history. We will sometimes invoke chemistry, economy, and psychology as we study the colours of works of art. As a result of this course, you will gain keys to understand and appreciate the colours of any work of art.

Discover the beauty of botanical illustration with our Art Practical: Botanical Illustration course. Learn techniques for drawing and painting plants and flowers with precision and detail. Ideal for artists and nature enthusiasts.

This course is designed to ignite your imagination and help you express your creativity through mixed media art journaling. Whether you're a beginner, who would like to try a new hobby, or a more experienced crafter on this course we will look at a variety of techniques and different mediums to create unique, expressive journal pages. No prior art experience is necessary- just an open mind and a desire to explore your creativity. During this course we will: • Look at the fundamentals of art journaling and it’s benefit for personal expression. • Experiment with variety of techniques such as drawing, doodling, painting and collage. • Develop your own style showcasing your creativity • Learn how to use prompts to inspire your journal pages. • Build your confidence in using art as a form of self expression.

In this course, we will focus on a century of artistic creation in Britain. From the artists in Cornwall to the war artists during the Second World War, we will study a varied mix of artists and art movements. We will proceed chronologically, but will keep in mind several transversal themes, especially that of the dialogue with artistic centres abroad, such as Paris and New York. Doing so, we will wonder whether modern British art followed a similar path as elsewhere or if some singular traits can be identified.

Learners will work with the tutor to improve confidence in their ability to develop their artistic skills and creativity within oil painting. You will be developing the skills to create a detailed landscape painting; challenging yourself to try new and different subjects. You will learn using a range of different teaching and learning activities, to include watching and following step by step demonstrations, with one-to-one help and guidance from a friendly and encouraging tutor. You will learn in a safe, welcoming and supportive environment, working together with your fellow learners and the tutor. This course is suitable for a complete beginner but also for those wanting to improve their existing skills in painting. No prior knowledge is needed, just a desire to learn and begin your journey to develop your artistic skills.