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History, culture & writing

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.

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  1. Friday lates: land art, an introduction
    Looking out over a lake with a large, spiral shaped jetty, sculpted from stone
    ONLINE
    Course start date:  Fri 2 Dec 2022

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Francesca Curtis
    Learn how and why early environmentalist artists sculpted with lightening, sun and earth. Join us for an introduction to land art.



    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 £19.00 Concession £12.00
  2. Film Studies Taster
    A black cinema screen showing in red the words, ‘Previews of Coming Attractions’
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 21 Sep 2022 (and 4 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Paul Sutton
    Learn how to evaluate and discuss films while enjoying a working example of a City Lit film studies class.



    We will view clips from a wide variety of films, exploring themes and technique in British cinema and modern American cinema. There will be a chance to review term one film courses at City Lit (September - December 2022).
    Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00
  3. History taster: From one empire to another?
    Course start date:  Fri 9 Dec 2022 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Martin Jorgensen
    Join us for an introduction on to how to make sense of the British and American ways of seeking global dominance and the ways in which people have resisted as we see the (re-)emergence of China, India and Russia in global politics and economics.
    Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00
  4. Friday lates: new media art in China - over the Great Firewall
    Friday lates: new media art in China - over the Great Firewall
    Evening, ONLINE
    Course start date:  Fri 9 Dec 2022

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Meitao Qu
    From creation to distribution, the explosion of digital technologies has transformed artmaking in a myriad of ways. In this session, we will journey across the Great Firewall to explore new media art in China.



    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 £19.00 Concession £12.00
  5. Art history taster
    Painting of a woman standing in an art gallery, looking at paintings. Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
    Course start date:  Fri 13 Jan 2023 (and 10 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Sarah Jaffray
    Curious 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 £10.00 Concession £10.00
    Rating:
    98% of 100
    11  Reviews Add Your Review
  6. Creative non-fiction
    Overhead shot of a desk with typewriter, flowers, coffee, camera, glasses, notebook and other objects
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 20 Jan 2023 (and 10 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Paul Laffan
    Explore practical and imaginative approaches to creative non fiction, including travel writing, life writing and the essay. Analyse published work, produce your own pieces, and benefit from detailed feedback.



    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
  7. Advanced poetry workshop
    Notebook, coffee cup and pen on wooden surface
    Course start date:  Fri 23 Sep 2022 (and 7 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Ellen Cranitch
    Develop your poetry, taking it in new directions and maturing your poetic voice. Various approaches and techniques will be explored, and new poetry can be workshopped. For experienced poets only.
    Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £110.00
  8. Short story writing
    Coffee cup and open notebook
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 30 Sep 2022 (and 9 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Eleanor Penny
    A hands-on introduction to the art of writing short stories. You will receive technical advice, creative exercises to generate ideas, and feedback to develop your writing skills.



    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
    Rating:
    97% of 100
    12  Reviews Add Your Review
  9. The 60 minute writer
    Hand writing in notepad with coffee mug in foreground
    Course start date:  Fri 30 Sep 2022 (and 10 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Yvonne Singh
    Fit creative writing into your busy day: a relaxed, informal rolling programme for writers of all levels of experience who enjoy being thrown new ideas and experimenting with poetry and prose.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £50.00
    Rating:
    96% of 100
    10  Reviews Add Your Review
  10. Ways into creative writing: an introduction
    Woman holding pen and notebook and looking thoughtfully into the distance
    Course start date:  Fri 21 Apr 2023 (and 10 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Lucy Popescu
    Not 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.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
    26  Reviews Add Your Review
  11. Developing your creative writing
    Young smartly-dressed man sitting on a bench writing in a notebook
    Course start date:  Fri 23 Sep 2022 (and 4 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Sophie McKenzie
    This supportive intermediate course for writers with some experience will provide inspiration, technical guidance and feedback on your work, as well as helping you to sustain your writing practice. For those interested in writing poetry and prose.
    Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
    4  Reviews Add Your Review
  12. Writing a memoir: an introduction
    Close up of man in suit writing on paper
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 30 Sep 2022 (and 4 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Julie Garton
    Some moments in our lives are so powerful they beg to be shared with the world. This course will help you plan and craft a memoir that will resonate and inspire.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00
    Rating:
    96% of 100
    5  Reviews Add Your Review
  13. Friday lates: launching the YBAS - from warehouse to stardom
    Blue camping tent with dates 1963-1995 stitched on the outside, text and names stitched into the inside
    ONLINE
    Course start date:  Fri 13 Jan 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Julie Barlow
    Did the YBAs unleash new artistic creativity or were they simply ambitious, self-promoting young art students from Goldsmiths determined to shock? Explore their art and the exhibitions which launched them; Freeze (1988) and Sensation (1997).



    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 £19.00 Concession £12.00
    Rating:
    80% of 100
    1  Review Add Your Review
  14. Introduction to Latin American art
    Introduction to Latin American art
    ONLINE
    Course start date:  Fri 13 Jan 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sarah Jaffray
    Explore the art of Latin America from indigenous cultures to colonisation and through the revolutions of the 20th and 21st centuries.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
    1  Review Add Your Review
  15. Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs: an introduction for beginners at the British Museum
    Last Few Places, Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 13 Jan 2023

    Location on this date:  The British Museum

    Tutors:  Hugo Cook
    This four-week course delves into the written words and thoughts of the ancient Egyptians. Students will gain a foundation in the iconic writing of hieroglyphs, putting their newfound skills into practice by reading original texts from British Museum artefacts. This is a truly fascinating and intricate language, and it offers its readers the ability to understand the lost voices of one of history’s most remarkable civilisations. The class will be held at the British Museum.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00

Items 1-15 of 74

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