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.
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.
- Ancient Beauty – Modern Stories: Helen from Homer to Modern Film and LiteratureCourse start date: Wed 28 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Doukissa KaminiCome and discover how Helen has been represented in both books and films.
This session accompanies the forthcoming Classics Day (RCD61) organised by City Lit in partnership with the British Museum and University College London. This year’s inspiration is the major British Museum exhibition “Luxury and power: Persia to Greece”.
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 - A culture of luxury: ancient China and modern fantasiesCourse start date: Wed 28 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Meitao QuExplore the material culture of imperial China and its influence on modern and contemporary visual cultures.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Art history tasterCourse start date: Wed 6 Dec 2023 (and 17 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
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 - Lunchtime lecture: Berthe Morisot's Impressionist groupCourse start date: Wed 13 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayLook at the work of Berthe Morisot in relation to her peers – her similarities and her difference. Examine how her distinct style developed as part of being an Impressionist.
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 £7.00 - Literature taster: the nineteenth century novelCourse start date: Wed 20 Sep 2023
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 the nineteenth century novel 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 - Lunchtime lecture: Vincent van Gogh - London, Paris, and JapanCourse start date: Wed 27 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julia MusgraveFollow Vincent van Gogh from London to Paris in the late 19th century and discover the artistic influences and friendships that informed his art.
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 £7.00 - Literature taster: poetryCourse start date: Wed 27 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sophie OxenhamEver wondered what an online Literature course at City Lit is like? Or wondering whether studying poetry is for you? Tempted to try, but not ready to commit to a whole course? Try this taster session on studying poetry 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 £7.00 - A taste of politicsCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Martin JorgensenBorders, conflicts, citizenship, elections, activism and global politics. We see these topics on the news every day. Some seem connected, others less so. Join our politics taster to get perspective and an overview of our politics courses.Full fee £10.00 - Lunchtime lecture: The Other Story – introducing the BLK Art GroupCourse start date: Wed 11 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayGet to know the ground-breaking art and ideas of the BLK Art Group, the early 1980s art and activist community whose work still shapes our conversations about art and culture in the UK today.
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 £7.00 - Lunchtime lecture: Judith Leyster & Frans Hals – a Haarlem rivalryCourse start date: Wed 1 Nov 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore the art world of the 17th century Netherlands through the artistic ‘rivalry’ of Judith Leyster and Frans Hals in the city of Haarlem.
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 £7.00 - Lunchtime lecture: Cezanne - from aspiring Impressionist to Post-Impressionist revolutionaryCourse start date: Wed 10 Jan 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julia MusgraveExplore the development of Cezanne revolutionary approach to painting, his techniques and motifs and some of the many artists whose work he influenced.
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 £7.00 - Literature Taster: ShakespeareCourse start date: Wed 17 Jan 2024
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 Shakespeare 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 - Lunchtime lecture: Philip Guston's restless worldCourse start date: Wed 24 Jan 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore the work of Käthe Kollowitz from the perspective of her artistic process. Get to know how the technical side of art enhances our experience of an artwork’s content.
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 £7.00 - Lunchtime lecture: Ellen Gallagher, drawing the archiveCourse start date: Wed 7 Feb 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayJoin us for an introduction to the work of Nancy Holt, one of the foundational figures of the land art movement.
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 £7.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Add me to waiting list