WEA courses

The Christmas story has probably inspired more art than any other subject. From medieval icons of the Virgin and Child to the Renaissance paintings of the shepherds and the wise men; and from stained glass windows to Christmas cards, the story has been at the forefront of western art.

This 5 week course delves into the works of 5 street artists, including Banksy, Blek Le Rat, JR, Blu and Os Gemeos. Each week explores key art concepts including colour and composition through samples of their work. You will engage in group discussions, take notes and recall information. By the end of the course, you will be able to name significant street artists, describe their artistic methods, spot similarities and differences among their work desconstruct essential components of artworks and select a preferred piece based on personal opinion.

In this course, 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, who were very highly thought of at the time. They were influential and sought-after by the powerful in Florence.

'Immerse yourself in the five film wonders of modern French cinema, deepening your knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of 21st-century international filmmaking. Discover the magic of these cinematic gems and broaden your love for the art of film. Moving slightly beyond the well-trodden historical path of French New Wave and even the Cinema du look of the 1980s, you'll explore the themes, influences, techniques and voices behind some captivating French cinema from relatively more recent years – have things changed? Are there still some factors parallel to earlier works? And what exactly might we mean by the term Modern French Cinema?

Explore the rich history and cultural significance of British cinema in this comprehensive course. Analyse iconic films, directors, and movements that have shaped the British film industry from its inception to the present day.

Away from any specific film movements or ‘waves’ relevant to their own countries, some filmmakers seem to earn greater acclaim internationally, often making films set outside their own native country, yet still telling the stories and expressing the themes they wish to portray. We examine what some of these, perhaps universal, stories and themes are, what are the stylistic approaches they use and just how and why these manage to resonate with critics and audiences. Are all these films received with equal praise within the director’s home country, are they seen as ‘selling out’? And regardless of what the director themselves might intend or state, are there still conscious or unconscious echoes of national cinematic movements within their work? And what role might financial sources play? Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon received praise yet the director was regarded by some as ‘selling out’ or ‘exploiting’ himself to the West. Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element could be viewed simply as a Hollywood sci-fi with a French Director, yet does the director add far more as an outsider, making more intellectual comment than one may expect from a commercial genre-movie. Not unlike Peter Wier’s Witness and Jane Campion’s The Piano, so many of these works which despite their creative diversity, also evidence their director’s own unique cinematic voice. Likewise, Wim Wenders recent Perfect Days, set in Japan, how far removed is it from the director’s early underpinnings of German Cinema? Perfect Days (2023), Couching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000), The Piano (1993), Witness (1985),The Fifth Element (1997).

Go behind the scenes of the Government Art Collection, a less well-known national art collection, with Chantal Condron, a former curator at the Collection. Discover the fascinating origins of its history, and the people and events that have shaped its past. Explore how and why artworks are acquired or commissioned and discover some of the locations where they have been displayed. We explore works across a range of media from paintings to film, by artists from the 16th to the 21st centuries, including Marcus Gheerhaerts the Younger, Thomas Phillips, Bridget Riley, Michael Armitage and recent Turner Prize winner, Jesse Darling.

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, we entered the age of the Anthropocene, where humans become the single most influential species on the planet. Today, discussions on environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity have permeated practically all aspects of our lives, yet the field of art history remains less affected. This course aims to look at well-known artworks from the 19th and 20th century through the lens of the Anthropocene and invites learners to appreciate new ways of linking art with daily life.

This course delves into the transformative impact of select 20th-century artworks that have revolutionized the trajectory of modern art. By examining pivotal pieces and their innovative approaches, students will uncover the reasons these works have garnered acclaim and reshaped artistic norms. Through critical analysis and contextual exploration, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the cultural, social, and technological factors that contributed to these artworks' groundbreaking status. The course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the artistic movements, influential artists, and key masterpieces that have defined and redefined the landscape of modern art, highlighting their enduring legacy and significance.

This course will explore the work of English landscape painter John Constable and his commitment to depicting his surrounding landscapes. This course will consider the way he devoted his career to the establishment of landscape painting as an important genre in the early 19th century. This course is for learners who have an interest in this period of Art and have engaged in some previous studies of Art. The course material will cover significant locations in Constable's landscape paintings; his native Stour Valley as well as Hampstead Heath and Salisbury. Examples of paintings will be discussed and analysed, considering the context in which they were produced.