Explore History, Culture & Writing
Explore our extraordinary range of History, Culture and Writing courses and lectures. We offer both introductory and specialist in-depth courses to suit all levels of interest and experience, from ‘How to read a film’ and World literature, to Creative non-fiction writing courses and American history and Politics courses.
Courses available both in-person and online
We offer a range of courses allowing you to choose between online and in-person learning. All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, you’ll receive the same great City Lit experience. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.
Our tutors are experts in their fields and experienced educators; many have published, teach in universities or share their expertise in the media. Tutors share their knowledge and passion through presentations, readings, interactive discussion and exercises, analysis, and other activities.
Many students return to take more courses, telling us they enjoy being part of our City Lit Learning community.
Our popular courses often sell out quickly, so we invite you to browse and book your place now.
- Ways into Islamic artCourse start date: Wed 6 Jul 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Anita ChowdryAn introductory art history course providing an overview of the development of the visual language of Islamic cultures in Asia, Africa and Europe.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £79.00 - Creative non-fiction: an introduction
Course start date: Thu 9 Jun 2022 (and 5 other dates)Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Claire CollisonThis short introductory course explores the core elements of creative non-fiction across genres such as travel writing, the personal essay and life writing. On this course you will start to produce your own works of creative non-fiction.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £52.00 - Ways into creative writing: an introductionCourse start date: Wed 25 May 2022 (and 14 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Tasha KavanaghNot sure whether creative writing is for you? Give it a try on one of these fun and supportive short courses covering the basics of fiction and poetry. Increase your confidence and produce work through guided exercises and discussion.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £36.00 - Movements in art: Suprematism and ConstructivismCourse start date: Wed 20 Jul 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher CollierStriving for an urgent, revolutionary and total transformation of art and life, artists and designers of the Constructivist and Suprematist avant-gardes aimed to build a whole new world, from its aesthetic foundations upwards.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £42.00 - Micropoetry: small poems, big ideasCourse start date: Fri 22 Jul 2022 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Jennifer WongExplore the emerging art form of micropoetry in this fun but informative day workshop. Compose your own poetry and learn how to make every word on the page count.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £28.00 - European history taster: Europe, 1900-1914: from peace to warCourse start date: Wed 27 Jul 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sebastien ArdouinWhy did Europe, after a prolonged period of relative peace, went to war? To answer this question, one needs to look at various elements, including the strategies adopted by great and lesser powers to achieve their competing goals. One such strategy was the construction of a system of alliances. During this class, we will study the reasons for and the consequences of the progressive rapprochement between two erstwhile rivals, France and Britain.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Picture book writing: a tasterCourse start date: Sat 6 Aug 2022 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeWould you like to write a picture book text for young children? This taster course is designed for children's writers and for illustrators wishing to write their own stories; a starter course to develop both your ideas and your technique.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £28.00 - Art history tasterCourse start date: Mon 12 Sep 2022 (and 15 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayCurious about art history? Join us for this taster session where we explore different ways into visual art and its histories, from the ancient to the contemporary.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £8.00 Concession £7.00 - History tasterCourse start date: Wed 14 Sep 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Martin JorgensenWhat is history? What does history mean to you? Is history important to society? Why or why not? Who gets to decide what and whose history is important? What are the implications of this? There are many reasons and ways to engage with history. With this course, we scratch the surface of the vast universe that is history to give you a taster.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Lunchtime lecture: Peggy Guggenheim's VeniceCourse start date: Wed 14 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayJoin us for an introduction to one of the 20th century’s most important art collectors and why she chose Venice as the permanent home for her art collection. This is the inaugural course of City Lit Art History's 'Venice Season'.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £8.00 Concession £7.00 - Rising Powers: BrazilCourse start date: Wed 14 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sebastien ArdouinBrazil's rise has been impressive but seems to have stalled. What are the factors the country’s growing presence and the challenges Latin America's leading power faces in its endeavour to achieve its international ambitions?
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £87.00 Concession £55.00 - Literature Taster: Jane AustenCourse start date: Wed 14 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sophie OxenhamEver wondered what studying an online Literature course at City Lit is like? Tempted to try, but not ready to commit to a whole course? Try this taster session on Jane Austen to boost your confidence and whet your appetite for further study!
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Writing fictionCourse start date: Mon 25 Apr 2022 (and 12 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Jonathan BarnesLovers of fiction can develop their creative writing skills on this practical intermediate course. You'll explore the fundamentals of fiction writing craft such as character and structure, and unlock your imagination to produce compelling prose. Suitable for those with some creative writing experience.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00 - Advanced fiction writing workshopCourse start date: Mon 19 Sep 2022 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
For experienced writers, this supportive but rigorous workshop offers the perfect opportunity to develop your novel or short story. Receive in-depth feedback and benefit from detailed group discussions on the art of fiction.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £110.00 - Ways into poetryCourse start date: Wed 27 Apr 2022 (and 10 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Lawrence BradbyRelatively new to writing poetry? This inspiring course offers an opportunity to experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices alongside fellow emerging poets. Discover the key elements of a poem in a friendly and interactive class.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00
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