̨��swag

This course will range from the beginning of the twentieth century until its end, and explore the wealth of short stories written during this period by women. We will encounter the usual suspects such as Katherine Mansfield, Virginia Woolf, Elizabeth Bowen and Doris Lessing, but the course will also assess the stories of less well-known writers, many of whom are worthy of much deeper study. These writers will emerge from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. As all our texts are by women, we will discover the importance of these voices, often disappeared in a patriarchal society, and recognise how vital these women’s voices were and are.

To introduce students to the art of still life drawing and painting in a relaxed and supportive environment.

On this course we will explore: ● How the ghosts of metre and rhyme may exist in free verse, and how to achieve this ● How rhythm is generated within free verse through sonic devices. ● How rhythms of conversational speech are related to the rhythm of free verse, and how this produces a form of elevated speech. ● Rhyme and Rhythm in traditional poetry. The course will explore one technique each week and concentrate on workshopping this via the development of a subject during each session. These sessions will be built from structured inspiration tasks, discussion and experimentation with ideas and languages.

As the National Gallery stages an exhibition of van Gogh’s paintings in the Autumn, it is a good occasion to deepen our understanding of the Dutch master’s art. In this session, we will look at the central role and place given to the natural world in his paintings. In this session we will focus on a specific group of paintings, representing a variety of flowers, skies, fields, blossoming trees, and more. As we discover what meaning van Gogh imbued the natural world with, we will also look at the colours, lines, and brushwork.

If you are new to machine sewing this course is for you. It is a beginner’s course which will introduce you to the different functions of a sewing machine. You will learn how to use a machine for a variety of projects. We will also explore the language used in sewing and try out some basic sewing techniques, types of stitches and also different ways to seam fabric. You will have an opportunity to develop your creative ̨��swag and safe money on simple clothing alterations and repairs

British art of the twentieth century is outstanding for its range of interest, style and inherent individualism.  This seven week online course explores the richness and diversity of the fascinating work of a range of artists including Paul Nash, Graham Sutherland, Ben Nicholson and Henry Moore. We will also look at the portraits of Lucian Freud and Modern Art and the Great War. No previous experience is necessary  - just a lively, open-minded interest in art!  The social, cultural, political and historical context in which these works were produced

If you have contact with deaf people in your day-to-day life, you may want to take a British Sign Language course. Knowing how to sign can make your communication more inclusive for everyone you interact with. This BSL course is suitable for you if you need to communicate with deaf people in a voluntary or community role, or simply through social interactions. This course is aimed at complete beginners. You will start from scratch to learn foundational BSL ̨��swag.

What does it take to keep the audience on the edge of their seat for the classic film thriller experience? What happens when crime is thrown into the mix? We explore five examples now regarded as classics of this genre and question – do they all have far more than ‘just’ generic entertainment value? For a brief period in the 1980s, it appeared as though the crime thriller expressed something about what was perhaps a changing, or changed Britain – we examine two of these films, The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa. Classics such as Brighton Rock provide an interesting and historical British cinematic parallel to the gangster and noir films of 30s and 40s U.S. Whereas, Get Carter, a film now regarded as an icon of national cinema was initially conceived as a trashy ‘pot-boiler’ for the U.S drive-in market, leaving some to argue it could be viewed as more of a ‘revenge Western’ set in North East England? Whilst Danny Boyle’s Shallow Grave seemingly reinvigorates the genre into something arguably more sophisticated and/or accessible in the 1990s? What common techniques do these films employ and what do they say thematically about reoccurring anxieties and tensions of the societies which produced and consumed them? Can filmmakers still learn from these or have some now dated in their power to keep us on the edge of the seat? Mona Lisa (1986), The Long Good Friday (1980), Get Carter (1971), Brighton Rock (1948), Shallow Grave (1994).

We will study the mutating virus of anti-semitism, through an exploration of the ancient template shaped by Christianity and examine key explosions of anti-Jewish violence and prejudice which Hitler was able to exploit, tragically culminating in the Final Solution. Through discussion and debate we will also spend time as a group examining contemporary Holocaust denial, distortion and conspiracy theories. Finally we will look at the current antisemitism accusations within the Labour party and its impact

Course Outline Come and join our enthusiastic tutor and a group of likeminded crafters as we immerse ourselves in the rewarding world of festive card making. If you’ve made Christmas cards previously you will know that it is never too early to start! Craft in general is known to have a positive effect on the mental health of those that do it, and card-making is fun, productive and very rewarding: you create lovely, personalised cards to delight the special people in your life. We will cover all aspects of card making from cutting the bases to adding the final elements of bling. We will try various fun folds, different techniques and a range of materials to create our stunning cards. This course is suitable for those with some experience of card making and a well-stocked craft room. Come and join us and build on your existing craft ̨��swag and add some new ones to your crafting library!