Archive lectures and events

WEA Tutor Patrick O’Reilly delivers a workshop about a relatively new literary format: Flash Fiction. During the session, Patrick guides us through the process of creating a story in a single sentence. We also talk about where AI could fit into the creative process. 

Social historian Jo Bath joins us for another member lecture. Over the course of an hour, we will learn all about the weird world of Regency fashion, from belly-pads to poke bonnets. 

"Regency" women's fashion probably brings to mind the Empire line dresses beloved of Jane Austen adaptations. But the journey from baroque to nearly-bare takes in revolution and classicism, the silliest silhouette of all time and the reason why women's dresses don't have pockets.

A Creativity for Wellbeing session for World Mental Health Day. WEA tutor Nicky Tarlton-Weatherall took us through the process of creating a piece of doodle art. 

Join WEA tutor Ione Harris for this poetry workshop on the theme of the Autumn equinox. As we pass the longest day of the year, with the shorter days and darker nights ahead of us, Ione leads us through some exercises in creativity, guiding us through the process of creating a poem inspired by the equinox. 

WEA tutor Dr Abbie Cairns leads a Creativity for Wellbeing session, guiding us through a line drawing session, with a focus on how to draw eyes and mouths.

Discover the fascinating story behind one of ancient Rome’s most iconic structures. This lecture explores the Pantheon’s mysterious origins, its transformation through time, and the groundbreaking engineering behind its massive dome. We’ll delve into its religious, political, and architectural significance—uncovering how it has influenced Western architecture for over two millennia.

Join us for this journaling workshop, where WEA tutor Nicky Torode talks to us about the benefits of journaling and leads us through a range of thought-provoking prompts. 

Join WEA Tutor Dr Joseph Williams to learn more about James Joyce's novel Ulysses. First published in 1922, it is one of the most significant novels ever written – as well as one of the most difficult. Over a century after its publication, Ulysses remains a world-famous novel – but why? In this lecture, we will learn more about Joyce’s life, his ambitions for the novel, his modernist technique, and how the difficulty of Ulysses is in fact profoundly democratic. 

Join us for an evening of celebration as we host our annual WEA awards, recognising the incredible achievements of learners, tutors and volunteers.  

Join WEA Tutor Caroline Levisse to learn more about Gustave Caillebotte, an Impressionist painter who was also an art collector and patron. 

Join Ray McCowan (WEA Scotland Director), Kirsty Menzies (Assistant Archivist at GCU) and Dr Gillian Murray (Senior Research Fellow, Yunus Centre, GCU) to learn more about the WEA Scotland Archive at Glasgow Caledonian University and how the collection was assembled and curated. 

On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, WEA tutor Kate Antoniou delivers a talk about what life was like in Britain in the days, weeks and months that followed.