Appreciate art through learning

Our Art History courses will give you a deeper understanding of what you're looking at. When it comes to art, everyone's has their own opinion on which artist is better than the other, and what their most famous work signifies.

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Through exploring the world of art history, you'll be learning about why pieces are made in the first place and what the pieces mean. You will also examine how that’s changed over a period of time, as well as the impact it’s had on society. 

You’ll be taught about many of the aspects from the art creation process, such as the materials used in artworks, and how different kinds of artists contribute differently in expressing their ideas through freehand drawing or digital media. 

Whether you're a seasoned art appreciator or a newbie, there's something here for everyone. From exploring art painted by Salvador Dali or learning all about the history of Nordic Art from the Viking era, we have a selection of online and in-person art history courses from different decades to choose from.  

Attend an Art History course near you  

Whether you choose to learn from the comfort of your own home, or opt for a space in your local community, you’ll be taught by a talented tutor who is an expert in their field. 

The support you’ll receive on our Art History courses

Your tutor will encourage you to develop an understanding of Art History that goes beyond what's on the surface, motivating you to truly immerse yourself in the subject. It’s our learning experience that sets us apart too, with an encouraging environment that ensures you attend each session with the excitement to learn.   

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Art Appreciation: The Art of Christmas

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.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 04/11/2024 -
Mon 09/12/2024
Times:
11:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
David Brindley
Course code:
Q00009345
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

Art Appreciation: Street 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.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 04/11/2024 -
Mon 02/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Castle Methodist Church (Colchester)
Maidenburgh Street
Colchester
CO1 1TT
Tutor:
Abbie Cairns
Course code:
Q00018003
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

Art Appreciation: The Art of Diplomacy: Behind the Doors of the Government Art Collection

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.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 07/11/2024 -
Thu 05/12/2024
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Chantal Condron
Course code:
Q00017288
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
2 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £60.00

Art Appreciation: Modern Icons: Artworks that Disrupted the 20th and 21st Centuries

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.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 08/11/2024 -
Fri 13/12/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Blue Beetle Room (London)
Hendon Lane
Finchley
London
N3 1TR
Tutor:
Chantal Condron
Course code:
Q00017292
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £60.00

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
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Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Art Appreciation: Art through the lens of the Anthropocene

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.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 08/11/2024 -
Fri 13/12/2024
Times:
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Shijia Yu
Course code:
Q00017295
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

Art Appreciation: Constable's Landscapes

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.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 13/11/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Rachel Holland-Hargreaves
Course code:
Q00018447
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Art Appreciation: Stravinsky and Russian art

The course aims to encourage learners to attend art exhibitions and/or musical events with a greater background knowledge in order to enhance appreciation. If actual attendance is not possible, to undertake independent research and hence, enjoy a more active and cultural lifestyle. The class also offers an opportunity for learners to interact socially with like- minded people in intellectual pursuits. It also encourages learners to acquire critical and analytical skills through debate and discussion. The course covers all styles and periods from the Renaissance to the present day. It is multi media to accommodate diverse learning styles and preferences. It is suitable for beginners and connoisseurs alike.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 16/11/2024 -
Sat 16/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Trinity Church (London)
100 Mill Hill
The Broadway
London
NW7 3TB
Tutor:
Andrew Rothwell
Course code:
Q00017561
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £30.00

Art Appreciation: Expressionism: from Kirchner to Kandinsky and Kokoschka (1905-1939)

In this short course, we will focus on Expressionism, a key art movement of the beginning of the 20th century. Starting around 1905 in Germany and Austria, with painters and sculptors such as Ersnt Ludwig Kirchner and Karl Schmidt-Rotluff, the expressionist style soon pervaded other art forms, such as cinema. Expressionist works of art were raw and energetic, shocking, sometimes dark and apocalyptic, sometimes light and spiritual, and always intensely free. If you have ever wondered what is Expressionism, how it started and developed, and why these artists painted in such a way, this course is for you!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 20/11/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00017434
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Art Appreciation: Portraits through the Ages

The portrait has flourished as an art form from the ancient world to the present day and this innovative course will explore its continuing popularity. We shall study not only the painted face and figure but a variety of formats and formulae, from statuary to pendant medals and miniatures, and study artists as diverse as Holbein, Titian, Gainsborough, Singer Sargent and Francis Bacon. We include a reflection on the place of the photograph in this history of portraiture.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 22/11/2024 -
Fri 22/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
The Ambrose Allen Centre (Tadley)
2 Franklin Avenue
Tadley
RG26 4ET
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00017150
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
3 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

Art Appreciation: John Singer Sargent: At Once Modern and Classic

What do you know about John Singer Sargent? He was a high society portrait painter? He painted Madame X, and Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose. In this session, you will learn about the life and career of this extraordinary painter, in greater details. American, he lived in Italy, in France and mainly in England, where he became a sought-after portrait painter. But there is much more to Sargent than his portraits of wealthy patrons. We will also discover some of his impressionist paintings and his watercolours. Sargent’s art is paradoxical: modern by some features, and classical based on some others. But always, in portraits as in landscapes, he comes across as a brilliant painter.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 23/11/2024 -
Sat 23/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00019039
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £8.40