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鈥檙e 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鈥檙e 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 台湾swag 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鈥檇 expect, literary greats such as Agatha Christie and Shakespeare feature regularly. There鈥檚 also the option to examine other time periods in English literature too, helping you develop your critical reading and analysis 台湾swag - perfect whether you鈥檙e a beginner or more experienced in the subject.  

If you prefer history then you鈥檝e got a choice too, from courses on subjects you鈥檇 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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Art Appreciation: Caravaggio, the Caravaggisti, and Baroque Art

Caravaggio鈥檚 life was as intense and significant as it was short. By the time of his untimely death at 38 years old, in 1610, he had ushered in a new aesthetic in painting, and was quickly followed by many, all over Europe. In this session, you will learn about the life and art of Caravaggio. You will also learn about Baroque art and its main features. To do so, we will not only study the works painted by Caravaggio, we will also study his followers鈥 works. The Italians Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi, the Naples-based Spaniard Ribera, the Flemish Rubens, the Dutch Rembrandt, and the French Georges de la Tour are some of the most famous painters influenced by Caravaggio.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/12/2024 -
Tue 10/12/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 5:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00019198
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to 拢11.10

Literature: Gawain and the Green Knight, the family-friendly version

Join us on this interesting online taster, where we will look at Christmas food through the ages, the traditions that lie behind it, and how it has changed, along with a few recipes that you may (or may not) want to try. This short session is an extract from the 10-week "Cookery through the Ages" course which will run in 2024.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/12/2024 -
Tue 10/12/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jane Williams
Course code:
Q00019859
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢7.40

Literature: Christmas with Dylan Thomas

This course will explore the enduringly popular Welsh poet and writer, Dylan Thomas鈥 radio broadcast 鈥楢 Child鈥檚 Christmas in Wales.鈥 The session will introduce Thomas鈥 life, his memories of Swansea Christmases, and the extravagance of his style and the vividness of his recreation of a child鈥檚 Christmas before the Second World War. Whether one knows the work of Dylan Thomas or not, the course will introduce you to a unique voice, which is accessible and urgent and will unlock your own memories of past Christmases. The course will provoke lively discussions and the sharing of thoughts and memories as we examine the work.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 14/12/2024 -
Sat 14/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00019847
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢7.40

Art Appreciation: Japonisme: Japanese influence in Monet, Van Gogh鈥檚 and other modern painter鈥檚 art

Explore the captivating influence of Japanese prints on modern art in the second half of the 19th century in this 3-hour session. We鈥檒l dive into how Japanese aesthetics reshaped European art in the late 19th century, inspiring artists like Van Gogh, Monet, and Whistler. Through ukiyo-e prints, minimalism, and asymmetry, Japan鈥檚 artistic elements transformed Western approaches to composition, colour, and subject matter. The session will include an illustrated lecture and a couple of group discussions, to deepen your understanding of what Japonisme was, and the ways it impacted movements such as Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Art Nouveau. Perfect for art enthusiasts eager to trace the roots of cross-cultural exchanges that forever changed the trajectory of modern art. This course is funded by Greater London Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 16/12/2024 -
Mon 16/12/2024
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00019825
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢11.10

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
拢15

Art Appreciation: How to Interpret Paintings

Have you ever wondered what a painting means, and how to figure out what it is about? This session will give you some keys to develop your understanding and appreciation of paintings. We will mainly focus on interpretative 台湾swag: how do we identify the type of subject matter? How do we recognise and decipher symbols? Where can we find clues? And, can we rely on our subjective interpretation? This is quite literally an 鈥渆ye-opener鈥, and should make your next visits to art galleries even more enjoyable!

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 17/12/2024 -
Tue 17/12/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 5:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00019748
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢11.10

Art Appreciation: Winter in Art

Join us for an engaging lecture on the portrayal of winter in art, exploring how artists have captured the season鈥檚 stark beauty, quietude, and introspection across centuries. From medieval illuminations and Bruegel鈥檚 lively 16th-century village scenes to Monet鈥檚 serene snowscapes, winter has many inspired painters. In their works they evoke the season鈥檚 unique mood and atmosphere. This session will examine iconic winter-themed works, delving into how artists convey the season's chilly textures and muted colours, but also its reflective qualities.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 18/12/2024 -
Wed 18/12/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00019896
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢7.40

Art Appreciation: Art and Faith

Are you fascinated by art and how it developed, and would like to know more? Humans have always expressed their spirituality through art, from the earliest cave drawings to contemporary installations in cathedrals. This course concentrates on how European art has depicted the Christian faith, but also looks at the art of Islam and the Indian art of Buddhism and Hinduism. Beginning with cave art around the world, we look at some of the earliest artistic expressions of humanity鈥檚 search for the beyond. Buddhist and Hindu art from the centuries before Christ is discussed, as is art from the earliest roots of Islam from the seventh century onwards.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 06/01/2025 -
Mon 10/02/2025
Times:
11:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
David Brindley
Course code:
Q00009346
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
2 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢55.50

Beginners Spanish

Want to take on a new challenge and learn a new language? Like to holiday in Spain or Spanish speaking countries or just want a new hobby, then this is the course for you. This is the introductory course which will run for 6 weeks, if you would like to carry on with your classes then the full 12 week course will be following this one. The course will be run by a fully qualified tutor who has experience teaching Spanish online. The course will be 6 weeks long to give you enough time to enjoy your taster and get ready for the full course that follows. Start your journey to speaking Spanish today!

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 07/01/2025 -
Tue 11/02/2025
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Andrea Ostapski
Course code:
Q00019150
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢44.40

Creative Writing: Body and Earth

This friendly creative writing course will invite you to enter into relationship with your bodies and surroundings. The session will be held in a supportive way and will integrate some simple meditation (adaptable to all bodies), prompts for creative and reflective expression through writing, and even some environmental science! You will be guided to a holistic understanding of person and place. This course is ideal for people who like to write and to contemplate how to live more skilfully as individuals, as a community and in relationship with their surroundings. There will be time for sharing small parts of your writing towards the end of the workshop but no pressure, it鈥檚 about an unfolding individual/shared creative process and participants need to feel at ease to write freely.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 07/01/2025 -
Tue 18/03/2025
Times:
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Ione Harris
Course code:
Q00019161
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢74.00

Art Appreciation: Vincent van Gogh 鈥 A short career of enormous significance

In this course, we will focus on an extraordinary artist, well-loved from today鈥檚 public: Vincent van Gogh. You will learn about his Dutch origins, his interests and friendships while in Paris, the dreams he nurtured in Arles, and, his last months in Auvers-sur-Oise. As we study the main phases in his life, we will study key examples of his paintings and drawings to better understand his artistic identity. What was the purpose of painting for him? Why did he paint with bright colours and thick brushstrokes? We will seek to understand van Gogh鈥檚 art not simply in light of his own mindset, but also in light of the wider cultural context he was part of.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 07/01/2025 -
Tue 28/01/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00019205
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
3 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢29.60