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.

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.  

You can also find WEA art history courses in WEA Learn, our new course offering. View our WEA Learn courses here.

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.   

Don't forget, you can also find WEA art history courses via WEA Learn.

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. 

Skip to course

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.

You can find more WEA cultural courses through our WEA Learn offer: view these courses here.

Strike a pose with the WEA

Taking place both online and in person, our photography courses offer you the flexibility to fit learning around your other commitments and choose the style of learning that’s right for you and your circumstances. 

Skip to courses

From beginner through to intermediate classes, we offer a wide range of levels, giving you the flexibility to choose the right course that fits your current skills. You can learn at your own pace too, steadily building your knowledge and experience in a supportive environment. 

How will I learn in my photography class? 

Experienced tutors will guide you through the photography process, developing your skills and boosting your camera confidence so that you can capture that perfect shot.  

With technical and practical aspects, our photography courses are balanced with real world examples, top tips and techniques that you can use to make sure you record those special moments. 

What support will I receive in my photography class? 

Small class sizes also mean that you’ll get plenty of one-to-one advice and guidance from a skilled tutor, ensuring that your photography skills and the images you capture continue to get better over time. Many of our tutors are experts in their field, teaching photography for many years. This means they’re uniquely placed to offer great advice and guidance to support you in becoming a better photographer.  

Creating jewellery is a great way to express your creativity.

Whether you're new to the world of jewellery making, or looking for some inspiration to build on your existing skills, our courses are sure to be fun and rewarding.   Learn to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more that you can keep for yourself, give to others as gifts or even sell online. 

Skip to courses

What you'll learn on a WEA jewellery making course 

In our jewellery classes you can explore a wide range of techniques and experience the artistry behind creating one-of-a-kind pieces. From necklaces and earrings to more elaborate pieces, the skills you’ll develop will empower you to be as creative as possible.  

At WEA, we offer courses in a range of venues as well as online.  Whether you’re in a classroom or learning from the comfort of your own home, you’ll still get the same support from your tutor.  All our courses are friendly and supportive, you’ll build your confidence as well as your jewellery making skills. 

Discover new jewellery making techniques 

Whether you’re an absolute beginner looking for inspiration, or you're experienced and familiar with jewellery making, our classes encourage all learners to try out a wide range of techniques. These include wire wrapping and beading, as well as sessions that explore how to recycle old pieces into something that sparkles once again. This will give you the confidence to upcycle and re-use previously discarded gems, restoring them to their former glory and saving money in the process too!  

With plenty of practice and guidance from our expert tutors, you’ll become confident in your abilities before moving on to more advanced techniques.  

Informal, friendly classes  

Learning in a supportive environment means that you’ll also build a network of like-minded people, many of whom could go on to be friends in the future and people that you can turn to for advice outside your classes too. 

A variety of textiles and sewing workshops

In fact, you might say we've got sew many! Ranging from sewing techniques, bag making and crochet, to knitting and dress making. 

Skip to courses

Whatever your craft, we’re almost certain to have a course or class for you. With a wide range of options to select from, you'll have the opportunity to progress from beginner level right through to intermediate and advanced. This gives you the flexibility to get started on your own journey, progress at your own pace and take your textile projects to the next level. 

What type of textiles and sewing courses are available?

Our entry level courses guide you through the basics of how to use a sewing machine, covering different sewing skills and techniques as well as sewing patterns. The same can be said for our knitting courses too, with different levels to suit beginners and improvers alike! You can join classes that match your experience level, ensuring that no time is wasted when it comes to deepening your knowledge and honing your skills. 

You'll meet fellow individuals who have the same interests and passions as you too, building a network and new friendships. Learning with us helps develop your skills and your social network at the same time, giving you access to a community that in many cases stays with our learners for life. 

What support is available throughout the course?

As always, your learning will be guided by our expert tutors, many of whom have years of experience. Whether you choose to learn online or face to face, they will help you develop your skills and guide you on how to make a business out of your passion, highlighting the next steps that you need to take. They’ll be on-hands throughout the course and support you every step of the way.  

Choose from a variety of creative art courses

Explore your creativity through painting and drawing and choose from a variety of creative art classes. With a huge range of subjects to learn from, you can choose from online or in-person options.

Skip to courses

Our creative arts courses will get you working with pastels and pencils, exploring fine art and even get you out and about discovering new galleries in your spare time. 

Paints to pastels

Delivered by experienced art tutors, why not try getting creative with clay, or getting hands-on painting your very own masterpiece. 

If you’re interested in drawing, you won’t be disappointed either. Collage making, oil painting, pastel painting and printing are just some of the subjects that have proved popular in recent years.  

Many of our arts courses are delivered for different levels of experience too, so whether you’re a beginner or a little more advanced, you’ll be able to choose the art course that’s right for you. 

Express yourself with the WEA

The WEA has been providing adults with the opportunity to learn for over a century, with our performing arts courses proving to be a popular choice for the thousands of learners who choose to study with us each year. We’ve supported more than two million people to reveal hidden talents, discover their purpose, find a community, or take control of their lives.  

Skip to courses

What performing arts topics are available? 

Our performing arts courses cover a wide variety of topics, from drama classes to dance directing and production. Whether you're looking to pursue a passion, or just want to improve your existing skills, our performing arts courses are the perfect choice. You might have always had a talent for performing arts, or maybe you’re completely new to it all and just want a new hobby that you’d like to explore further. Whatever stage you’re at, we’ve got a course to help you progress.  

If drama is a topic you’ve always wanted to get to grips with, then choose from one of our many courses running throughout the year. If your passion and interest is more in the writing than performance, then one of our scriptwriting courses could be right up your street. Or maybe dancing is more your kind of thing? We’ve a range of styles on offer and different classes running each term. Our directing focused courses are ideal if you’re a more of a behind the camera type, offering you that creative outlet, whilst there’s also production too. 

Online and in-person performing arts classes 

From workshops and group discussions to more tailored sessions, you can choose the perfect performing art class for you in a variety of locations across the country. Whether it's online or in-person, you'll learn from one of our experienced tutors and develop a broad range of skills and knowledge that will help you reach your goals,

Improve your arts & craft skills, or learn some new ones

We’ve got the best modern arts and crafts classes that you can do online or in person at one of our learning venues across England and Scotland. It's never been easier to try your hand at something a little different and discover a new talent.

Skip to courses

Our arts and crafts workshops are perfect if you’re looking to get creative and hands on.

Show your creativity

Take centre stage with one of our performing arts courses, or indulge your photography passion and strike a pose with tips and techniques on how to capture that perfect shot.  

Develop the skills and get crafty with some jewellery making, with no previous experience required. With courses in textiles and sewing, as well as the arts, we really do have something for everyone, and everyone is welcome too.  

Small focused groups

The combination of small class sizes and guidance from expert tutors means that taking part in one of our arts and crafts courses is the perfect place for you to develop your talent, learn a new skill, or start that hobby you’ve always wanted to try.