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’re 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’re 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 skills 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’d expect, literary greats such as Agatha Christie and Shakespeare feature regularly. There’s also the option to examine other time periods in English literature too, helping you develop your critical reading and analysis skills - perfect whether you’re a beginner or more experienced in the subject.  

If you prefer history then you’ve got a choice too, from courses on subjects you’d 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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Creative Writing: Story, Conflict, Plotting and Dialogue

This course will explore the fundamental elements of compelling storytelling, focusing on conflict, plotting and dialogue in drama. Through practical exercises and analysis, students will develop skills to craft engaging narratives, create dynamic characters, and construct intricate plots. A friendly but challenging class suitable for both new writers and more established writers. The course aims to make Learners better writers of drama via the acquisition of a more complete understanding of Story Structure, Effective dialogue and the role of conflict in storytelling. The Tutor has worked professionally as a Drama /Comedy Writer in both Theatre and Local BBC Radio.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 24/01/2025 -
Fri 04/04/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
Q00019485
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Creative Writing: Wellbeing and Writing Skills

Are you interested in creative writing as a tool for well being? We will explore creative writing as therapy or personal memoir as a tool for well being and developing writing skills, imagination and confidence and look at different ways of writing about life experience, memory, incidents and details that illustrate a narrative and how the use of imagination can often lead to the development of a story or poem.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 25/01/2025 -
Sat 25/01/2025
Times:
10:00am - 3:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stella Stocker
Course code:
Q00018503
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £20.35

Art Appreciation: Mirrors and Reflections in Art

Mirrors are present in several masterpieces, such as Van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait, Velazquez’s Las Meninas and Manet’s Un Bar aux Folies-Bergères. In these, mirrors and the reflections they reveal are often enigmatic as they add another dimension to what we (think we) see and deepen the work’s meaning. In this session, we will look at the different ways in which mirrors and reflected images have been included in works of art. As we do so, we will investigate the symbolism of the mirror in Western art and culture.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 25/01/2025 -
Sat 25/01/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00019169
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £8.40

History: Murder Most Horrid: The Rise of Crime as Entertainment in the 19th Century Day School

The nineteenth century saw an explosion in interest in ‘Sensational Crimes’ which gripped the nation and dominated the press. These crimes soon became the inspiration for popular entertainment, and a visit to the theatre to enjoy a retelling of a bloodcurdling murder or curling up with a fictionalised account of a real-life serial killer’s deeds were the favourite pastimes of many people.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 25/01/2025 -
Sat 25/01/2025
Times:
10:30am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Friends Meeting House (King's Lynn)
38 Bridge Street
King's Lynn
PE30 5AB
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00019923
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £30.00

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

History: Country life 1700 to 1900

This course provides an insight into East Anglian life, from the great house to the labourer’s cottage, during a period of great economic and social change, with reference to changes in the landscape, farming practices, and social structures, and the poverty that led to unrest and migration.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 28/01/2025 -
Tue 11/02/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Blofield Court House (BLOFIELD)
28 Yarmouth Road
BLOFIELD
NR13 4JU
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00019922
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

Literature: British Novels of the 1950s

The 1950s saw exciting new developments in the British novel; a more democratic postwar spirit is in evidence and many new, influential writers make their first appearance. We begin with Barbara Pym’s Excellent Women, and end with Alan Sillitoe’s Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. We’ll be able to share and debate interpretations, sharpen our critical and appreciative faculties, understand what fiction can tell us about the society and culture that produced it, and, hopefully, be inspired to read other works by the writers featured on the course. This course is funded by Greater London Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 29/01/2025 -
Wed 12/03/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Wesley Hall (Barnet)
High Barnet Methodist Church
9 Stapylton Road
Barnet
EN5 4JJ
Tutor:
Brandon Robshaw
Course code:
Q00019917
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £60.00

A Face to the World: Highlights of the National Portrait Gallery

Discover selected paintings, sculptures, works on paper and new media works from the National Portrait Gallery in London. Marking the relaunch in summer 2023 of this national collection after a three-year refurbishment, this course offers an opportunity to discover new or less well-known artworks; and to re-visit familiar portraits that epitomise aspects of British history. We explore ideas around the function of portraiture; and the range of approaches and styles that artists have employed through history to express individual and national identity. Artists featured include Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, Joshua Reynolds, Angelica Kauffmann, Pauline Boty, Jann Haworth and Liberty Blake.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 30/01/2025 -
Thu 13/03/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Wesley Hall (Barnet)
High Barnet Methodist Church
9 Stapylton Road
Barnet
EN5 4JJ
Tutor:
Chantal Condron
Course code:
Q00017379
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
1 place remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £60.00

Literature: Secrets of investigative journalism

If you wonder how people uncover information in the public interest that would usually remain in the dark, this course on investigative journalism is for you. This introductory course highlights the skills needed by investigative journalists when they conduct public interest investigations. Participants explore ways of reporting and editing stories, especially those which usually go unreported. The course will cover definitions of investigative journalism; how to find and plan an investigative story and which sources might be available. It gives a brief introduction to some of the legal and regulatory aspects of journalism.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 30/01/2025 -
Thu 13/03/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Hockliffe Street Baptist Church
33 Hockliffe Street
Leighton Buzzard
LU7 1EZ
Tutor:
Rebecca Eliahoo Charles
Course code:
Q00019164
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Art Appreciation: Artistic Communities

The reasons behind founding an artist community in the UK, from identifying some of their famous residents to the subject matter and art movements they are associated with. This course will cover the art communities in St Ives and Newlyn in England, Kirkcudbright and Cockburnspath in Scotland, Betws-y-Coed in Wales, Northern Ireland Muralist in Belfast and Londonderry, and ending with the Black Art Movement and the growth of online art communities.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 01/02/2025 -
Sat 15/03/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
The Drive Methodist Church (Redbridge)
Eastern Avenue
Redbridge
IG4 5AB
Tutor:
Jolanta Jagiello
Course code:
Q00017560
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £60.00

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:
Sat 01/02/2025 -
Sat 01/02/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
St John's United Reform Church Orpington
Lynwood Grove
Orpington
BR6 0BG
Tutor:
Chantal Condron
Course code:
Q00017572
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £10.00