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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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Art Appreciation: Matisse

Come and learn about the life and art of Henri Matisse, one of the greatest painters of the 20th century. Inspiring and informative, this study-day will present the main stages of his career, from Fauvism to the Cut-Outs. We will analyse in detail some of his iconic works such as “the Bonheur de Vivre”, “the Dance”, “the Red Studio”, and the album of cut-outs, “Jazz”.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 18/05/2024 -
Sat 18/05/2024
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Reading International Solidarity Centre
35-39 London Street
Reading
RG1 4PS
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00013790
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £36.00

History: Spirit of the North – Nordic Romantic Art

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the Nordic art movement of National Romanticism. The course will give a contextual historical background to the art and look at the art and artists of 19th century Scandinavia. In Northern Europe landscape painting has a powerful hold on our visual culture and especially in Scandinavia, where far northerly folk have found a kinship with nature to be indispensable. Nordic art is a little known treasure trove of stunning images of the Northern landscape and the country people. We will look in particular depth at the artistic developments in Norway.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 20/05/2024 -
Mon 22/07/2024
Times:
11:45am - 1:45pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Tim Stimson
Course code:
Q00014355
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
6 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Literature: The Literature of the Harlem Renaissance - An Introduction

The Harlem Renaissance was a flowering of Black American culture running from around the period 1919-1939 in Harlem and other Black communities. Its influence continues today and is global. Whilst all aspects of the arts and intellectual activity flourished during this period, we will focus on its literature and the debates that arose from it. How were Black people to portray themselves after centuries of misrepresentation? What purpose was literature to fulfil for Black communities? How much were the writings of the Harlem Renaissance to be evaluated as a separate movement? How much were they to be integrated with the literature of the dominant White culture? Together, we will be discussing these and other aspects of this fascinating and radical movement.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 22/05/2024 -
Wed 12/06/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Clare Jackson
Course code:
Q00014844
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Creative Writing: Writing for Wellbeing: Getting Started

If you would like to learn how to use creative writing in a fun way to support your wellbeing and are interested in developing skills to express your thoughts and feelings, then this friendly and supportive course is the perfect course to get you started. Creative writing is an effective and rewarding way to develop your self-expression and a great way to make space and time for personal reflection. It can enable you to re-connect with both your creativity and learning. It has been shown that exploring creativity with words and the use of writing games can help us gain insight and perspective on our lives and can build confidence and stimulate problem solving. During this friendly and supportive course, you will develop some of these fun approaches to creative writing.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 23/05/2024 -
Thu 23/05/2024
Times:
10:30am - 2:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
ClayTAWC Ltd (St. Austell)
Fore Street
St. Dennis
St. Austell
PL26 8AF
Tutor:
Heather White
Course code:
Q00014576
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £16.80

ܽƵ 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:
ܽƵ Membership

Art Appreciation: British Landscape Artists' Views of India

We will discuss, within a broader historical context, the various ways in which British colonial artists depicted the architecture and landscape of India through painting, prints and photographs.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 24/05/2024 -
Fri 24/05/2024
Times:
10:00am - 3:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
St Lawrence Parish Rooms (Winchester)
Colebrook Street
Winchester
SO23 9LH
Tutor:
Prasannajit De Silva
Course code:
Q00009392
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £35.00

Film & Media: The Third Man- Film and Literature Day School

Embark on a journey into the heart of classic noir with our Film Noir Day featuring Carol Reed's cinematic masterpiece, "The Third Man," based on Graham Greene's original screenplay/novella. Delve into the post-war shadows of Vienna as protagonist Holly Martins navigates a web of intrigue and deception in search of his elusive friend, Harry Lime. Experience Greene's gripping narrative brought to life through Reed's atmospheric direction and the haunting zither score. Join us for a day of suspense and mystery, where timeless storytelling and unforgettable characters converge in a dark symphony of cinematic brilliance. Don't miss this immersive cinematic experience.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 25/05/2024 -
Sat 25/05/2024
Times:
11:00am - 4:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Disley Methodist Church (Disley)
70 Buxton Road
Disley
SK12 2EY
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00014203
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £23.10

History: Women in the Shadows

“Women in the Shadows" explores the resilience and creativity of women writers, artists, and musicians in 19th-century Europe, highlighting their remarkable ability to overcome societal barriers and leave a lasting impact on culture and society. Despite facing numerous obstacles, these women defied expectations and carved out spaces for themselves in male-dominated fields, challenging norms and stereotypes along the way. Through their groundbreaking work and pioneering spirit, they not only asserted their presence but also contributed significantly to the artistic and intellectual landscape of their time. This course explores and sheds light on their often-overlooked contributions and celebrates their enduring legacy.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 01/06/2024 -
Sat 01/06/2024
Times:
10:00am - 4:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Friends Meeting House (King's Lynn)
38 Bridge Street
King's Lynn
PE30 5AB
Tutor:
David Price
Course code:
Q00014879
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £30.00

Film & Media: 5 Forgotten Classics from Ealing & Gainsborough

Exploring five arguably lesser known classics produced by British film studios Ealing and would be ‘rivals’ Gainsborough, both stalwarts of 1940s and early 1950s cinema. Ealing Studios are still renown for their many now classic comedies produced throughout the 1940s and into the 50s but perhaps the repeated focus on the same films has lead to other equally remarkable classics from their own studio becoming overshadowed. Likewise, a repeated focus on Ealing Studios has perhaps stolen praise from other British studio of the era Gainsborough. This course aims to reinvestigate some of these ‘forgotten’ classics.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 03/06/2024 -
Mon 01/07/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
George Cromack
Course code:
Q00013795
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Art Appreciation: Nature in Art- From landscape painting to ecological art

Throughout the years, nature has had different places and meanings in art: from mere background to an independent genre. In this short course, we will study concrete examples from early 17th century Dutch landscape, to contemporary works of art dealing with climate change. This will include works of art as diverse as Chinese hand-scroll paintings, the paintings of flowers, Romantic landscape paintings, the Impressionist works of art, and political installations and performances. We will reflect on the way works of art reflect the way our perception of the natural environment has changed throughout the centuries.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 03/06/2024 -
Mon 01/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00014221
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
1 place remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Art Appreciation: Art in Churches

The Church has historically been a major patron of the arts, and all major artists have works in church buildings around Europe. From Saxon wall paintings and lavish medieval alter pieces, to contemporary installations in Cathedrals, this course looks at the variety of art commissioned by the Church, from the Sistine Chapel ceiling to Victorian church textiles. We discuss where good examples can be seen in this country, including stained glass and sculpture. The way in which art in Churches has reflected the major art history developments is at the core of this course.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 03/06/2024 -
Mon 08/07/2024
Times:
11:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
David Brindley
Course code:
Q00009352
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £55.50