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: Painting in the Late Nineteenth Century

This course is an introduction to ways of viewing paintings made in Europe and North America in the period 1860-1900. The course uses a selected number of paintings to provide a basis for the beginnings of an appreciation and understanding of some of the seminal ideas in aesthetics and philosophy of the period. The course will attend to direct visual experience of reproduction of the works. The selection will encourage a focus on the paintings with specific themes and attentions from the urban sitting room to the outdoors, from portraits and scenes of domestic life to paintings of inner cities and open landscapes.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 13/02/2024 -
Tue 02/04/2024
Times:
11:15am - 12:45pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Tutor:
Allen Fisher
Course code:
Q00011867
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Art Appreciation: The Art of Easter

Are you fascinated by art and how it developed, and would like to know more? The story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus has been at the forefront of western art for 2,000 years - from early inscriptions in the catacombs, medieval altarpieces and Leonardo’s Last Supper, to the twentieth century works of artists such as Marc Chagall and Graham Sutherland. This lavishly illustrated six week course takes you through the Easter story through the eyes of the major artists.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 19/02/2024 -
Mon 25/03/2024
Times:
11:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Tutor:
David Brindley
Course code:
Q00009348
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £55.00

Art Appreciation: The Dutch Golden Age

We shall discuss the tidal waves of history which enabled the Low Countries to become the driving force in trade, exploration and also painting at this time. This course will educate and entertain those with an interest in the life and work of three of the greatest artists of their age and probably of all time: Pieter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 20/02/2024 -
Tue 12/03/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Pyrton Village Hall (Watlington)
Pyrton
Watlington
OX49 5AP
Tutor:
Kate Phillips
Course code:
Q00012192
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £40.00

Art Appreciation: World Heritage Architecture in Mainland Europe

We will look at outstanding examples of the architecture of Mainland Europe which have been awarded World Heritage status - and consider the issues of their selection and conservation. UNESCO’s designation of World Heritage now includes some of the world’s most extraordinary and varied architecture – our sampling of this will include Palermo and Monreale in Sicily, Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Turin under the House of Savoy, the magnificent cathedral at Chartres, the historic city of Lyon, the Romanesque masterpiece of Speyer’s cathedral, Lisbon’s Jerónimos monastery and Granada’s Alhambra. This course will combine short lectures with discussion sessions, backed by colour-illustrated notes.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 20/02/2024 -
Tue 19/03/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
St Joseph's Parish Centre (Maidenhead)
Cookham Road
Maidenhead
SL6 7EG
Tutor:
Keith Hasted
Course code:
Q00012191
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £45.00

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
  • Access an archive of over 100 past lectures,
  • Get priority online and phone booking for autumn courses (England only),
  • Receive our Highway magazine and access back issues,
  • Attend our members’ annual conference.

Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

Art Appreciation: Art History - Art of Indigenous People

In this course, we will focus on artworks that are rarely studied in themselves: the objects and art created by indigenous peoples. Come and learn about the artistic traditions of Native American peoples, of the Sami, of Aboriginal Australians, and many more.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 20/02/2024 -
Tue 19/03/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
St John's United Reform Church Orpington
Lynwood Grove
Orpington
BR6 0BG
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00012101
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

History: Art, Architecture and Photography in the 1930s

This course aims to introduce you to the work of artists, architects and photographers of the 1930s, with close attention to historical context. It is suitable for both those who are new to the history of art, and for students who may have previously attended art history courses.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 22/02/2024 -
Thu 14/03/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
St Lawrence Parish Rooms (Winchester)
Colebrook Street
Winchester
SO23 9LH
Tutor:
Michaela Cranmer
Course code:
Q00009648
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

Art Appreciation: World Heritage Architecture in Britain

A survey of remarkable architecture in England, Wales and Scotland celebrated in World Heritage sites. We will include the Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich, Edward I’s Castles in Wales, Durham Cathedral and Castle, Blenheim Palace, the City of Bath, the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh – and the Palace of Westminster. Listing is decided by a committee established under UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention. We will look in detail at how these architectural sites have been awarded this World Heritage status and consider what may have justified this distinction. This course will combine short lectures with discussion sessions, backed by colour-illustrated notes.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 22/02/2024 -
Thu 21/03/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Marlow Community Association (Marlow)
Liston Hall
Chapel Street
Marlow
SL7 1DD
Tutor:
Keith Hasted
Course code:
Q00012195
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £45.00

Art Appreciation: From New York with Love - American Abstract Painting

Conquer your fear (!) of American Abstract Expressionist painting and discover how and why this major art movement of the 20th century dominated international art from the 1940s and beyond. Why did this radical new form of artistic expression originate largely in the studios of New York? What were the main social, political and cultural influences on this new painting style? This course will look at the work of several artists including Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler and Mark Rothko, among others. We also discuss how and why Abstract Expressionism continued to influence artists internationally in the following decades.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 22/02/2024 -
Thu 28/03/2024
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Chantal Condron
Course code:
Q00012150
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £69.00

History: Klimt & Vienna's Golden Age

This course offers an insight into Gustav Klimt and how his paintings of women, landscapes and portraits, created controversy behind the scenes. Set in a relaxed environment, this course is a great way to learn something new, socialise with others and gain confidence in a group setting.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 02/03/2024 -
Sat 02/03/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
The Minster (Grimsby)
St James Square
Grimsby
DN31 1EP
Tutor:
Tim Stimson
Course code:
Q00009393
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.00

History: British Architecture in India

This lecture will look at the variety of architectural styles adopted by the British for public and private buildings during the period of the Empire in India.

Course Information

Dates:
Sun 03/03/2024 -
Sun 03/03/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
St John's United Reform Church Orpington
Lynwood Grove
Orpington
BR6 0BG
Tutor:
Prasannajit De Silva
Course code:
Q00012135
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £8.40