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.
- An introduction to Indian comparative religionsCourse start date: Sat 13 Aug 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ketan VariaThe course is an introduction to Indian Religions. Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism all have common aspects, but also some fundamental differences in philosophy.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £30.00 - Plotinus and The OneCourse start date: Sat 13 Aug 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John Goff“THE ONE is all things and no one of them; the source of all things is not all things; all things are its possession … ” Plotinus.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £30.00 - Jump start your play
Course start date: Sat 13 Aug 2022 (and 2 other dates)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Brian MullinHave you got a script idea but not yet put pen to paper? Or a script you started long ago but never finished? This intensive short course is like a dramaturgy bootcamp. You’ll inject some new energy into your idea – and get a headstart at writing it. A perfect motivator to finally fulfill those playwriting resolutions, suitable only for those with playwriting experience.
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 - Writing comedy for TV: a tasterCourse start date: Sat 13 Aug 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Alan NixonDo you want to find out more about writing comedy? Explore some fundamental aspects of humorous scriptwriting for television, beginning with sketches, and looking at sitcoms from initial idea through to finished script.
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 - Writing the cityCourse start date: Sun 21 Aug 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Rowan Hisayo BuchananThrough a combination of close observation and texts both old and new, you'll explore the depiction of inner city life in fiction, and write your own fiction inspired by the urban landscape in this short course.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £28.00 - Art history tasterCourse start date: Sat 17 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 £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Film Studies TasterCourse start date: Sat 17 Sep 2022 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street (other locations are available)
Tutors: John WischmeyerLearn how to evaluate and discuss films while enjoying a working example of a City Lit Film Studies class. In this class we will view and explore clips from a number of films, including popular remakes, enabling us to consider and compare themes and techniques from differing filmmaking countries. There will be a chance to review – in brief – film courses at City Lit (September - December 2022).Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Literature tasterCourse start date: Sat 17 Sep 2022 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street (other locations are available)
Tutors: Patricia SweeneyDo you want to find out how to go about understanding a poem or how to do a close reading of a work of fiction? Come and join us to discover what makes a literature class at City Lit so special.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - A taste of creative writingCourse start date: Sat 13 Aug 2022 (and 11 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Sophie McKenzieGive creative writing a try on this fun and supportive online short course. Ideal if you want to express yourself but need help in getting started. Guided exercises will encourage you to experiment and unlock your imagination. Please note: this course has a 2-hr break from 12:30-14:30.
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 £35.00 - Ways into screenwriting: a tasterCourse start date: Sat 17 Sep 2022 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Alan NixonWant to write scripts but don't know how to start? Discover the basics of screenwriting - character, conflict and more - on this short online course that will help you shape your ideas and get your story going.
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 £35.00 - A taste of philosophyCourse start date: Sat 17 Sep 2022 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street (other locations are available)
Tutors: John GoffHave you ever wondered what philosophy is? What do philosophers talk about? Can they tell you the meaning of life or is it just jargon and navel gazing? Come along and find out.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - A taste of poetryCourse start date: Sat 17 Sep 2022 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Julie IrigarayThis short, fun workshop is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to poetry. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.
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 £35.00 - Think like an artist: in 16th century VeniceCourse start date: Sun 18 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julia MusgraveFind out how the art of the mercantile republic of 16th century Venice reflects its unique location, trade routes and society.
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 £45.00 - Ways into creative writingCourse start date: Sun 25 Sep 2022 (and 15 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Claire CollisonWant to have a go at creative writing in a supportive environment? Join one of these introductory courses. Guided exercises will give you the tools to explore language creatively and find your own writing voice.
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 - The 60 minute writerCourse start date: Sat 6 May 2023 (and 11 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Tasha KavanaghFit 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
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