WEA courses

The purpose of this course is to support your individual health and wellbeing and for you to gain confidence through arts and crafts. You will be given an opportunity to learn new skills and techniques from a range of different types of art and craft. For example, painting stones, glass, wood, and dream catchers. You will use a variety of different resources and medias such as wool, fabrics, and jars. You will learn about the development of the different arts and crafts that we enjoy today. You will also learn about and gain an insight into how different techniques and skills have evolved in certain crafts over time.

Have you ever wondered how to look at a painting or what draws you to it? This session will give you an introduction and some key pathways to develop your understanding and appreciation of paintings. Looking at how the painter makes depth and Space or how the painter uses colour and light. We will mainly study the technical and visual aspects of a painting: What is a painting made of? And how to look at its scale, format, composition, colours, lines and texture? This is quite literally an “eye-opener”, and should make your next visits to art galleries even more enjoyable!

Collage is all about creating something awesome from scraps and there are no rules. Discover the creative, calming and relaxing craft of collage. Craft in general is known to have a positive effect on mental health for those who do it, and collage is a no stress, no rules fun activity and is an excellent way to instil calm. Anything goes with collage: you could create a landscape or a sunset or an abstract placement of random shapes and colours – it is completely up to you. This course is aimed at beginners, those new to or nervous of the randomness of collage but would benefit from the calming effects of this simple, fulfilling craft.

The purpose of this course is to support your individual health and wellbeing and to help you gain confidence. You will be given an opportunity to learn new skills and techniques from a range of different types of art and craft. For example, painting stones, glass, wood, and dream catchers. You will use a variety of different resources and medias such as wool, fabrics, and jars. You will learn about the development of the different arts and crafts that we enjoy today. You will also learn about and gain insight into how different techniques and skills have evolved in certain crafts.

The purpose of the course is to support your individual health and wellbeing and to help you gain confidence. You will be given an opportunity to learn new skills and techniques from a range of different types of arts and crafts. For example, painting stones, glass, wood, and dream catchers. You will use a variety of different resources and medias such as wool, fabrics, and jars. You will learn about the development of the different arts and crafts that we enjoy today. You will learn about and gain an insight into how different techniques and skills have evolved in certain crafts.

Have you learnt the basics of painting in watercolours and are looking for fresh ideas? Do you want to learn how to create expressive and creative textures and effects in watercolours? Are you unsure where to start, what to use and how to use it? Why not join this course to explore your own creativity, find inspiration and receive support and encouragement? This ten-week course aims to provide lots of ideas and techniques for working spontaneously and expressively as well as how to create a variety of different textures and effects. You will also have the opportunity to share ideas and take part in weekly discussions about your artworks with the tutor and other students on the course.

Picasso is one of the 20th-century most well-known artists, a household name. In this course, we will learn about his personal life and his artistic career. As we do so, we will try and deconstruct the myth that exists around him both as a man and artist. Our approach will be chronological, starting in Spain, developing in Paris, and ending in Southern France, from 1881 to 1973. We will also address transversal themes, such as sculpture, Picasso’s family and lovers, the issue of collaboration, myth-making. Beyond developing your knowledge and understanding of Picasso’s art and life, this course will provide many opportunities to deepen your ability to analyse works of art (visual analysis and iconography).

Do you want to learn the basics of watercolours? Have you tried before and given up in frustration? Why not join this course for support and encouragement? Watercolour, simply put, is water mixed with pigment which is then applied to paper. But painting with watercolours is something entirely different. It can be complex, confusing, and fun at the same time. While not a medium to be controlled or manipulated, part of the very beauty of working with watercolours is learning to let go! Come and join us to find out more.

This 10-week course offers a unique exploration of British history by examining the lives and contributions of ten remarkable women who left indelible marks on society, culture, and politics. From ancient warriors to pioneering scientists and influential writers, each woman represents a distinct era in British history, shedding light on the struggles, achievements, and societal changes of their times. Throughout the course, we will delve into the lives of these extraordinary women, analysing their impact on British society and their enduring legacies. By studying their stories, learners will gain a deeper understanding of key historical events, social movements, and cultural shifts that have shaped the fabric of Britain.

A history course based on some well-known musicals. Writers of musicals often dealt with complex social, political and historical issues while also providing an entertaining show with great songs, but in this course we’ll look at some unexpected, surprising and even ill-conceived inspirations for musicals, some of which were very successful, some of which were not. The course includes the background to musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Stephen Sondheim, but also lesser-known writers whose work has become very successful and has acquired a cult following.  At the end of the course, you will be able to: - Discuss how Evita and Call Me Madam are influenced by the writers' personal viewpoints of the societies they are describing - Give examples of how fairy tale conventions are overturned in Frozen and Into The Woods - Identify some of the classic films, stories and characters that fed into horror musicals like Rocky Horror Show and Sweeney Todd. - Discuss why "bad taste" is such a prevalent feature of modern musicals, like the Producers and Little Shop of Horrors. - Identify some of the issues that caused a few of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals to fail.