Cathedral Windows – a traditional hand-sewing technique
This course is fully booked. Please contact us if you would like to be on the waiting list for any cancellations. A manipulated fabric technique which you will use to make a pin cushion and a needle case. This is … More details …
Introduction to the Arts and Crafts Movement
This course is fully booked. Please contact us if you would like to be placed on the waiting list for any cancellations. “With the arrogance of youth, I determined to do no less than to transform the world with Beauty. … More details …
Beethoven’s Symphonies
This course is now fully booked. Please contact us if you would like to be placed on a waiting list for any cancellations. Victor Hugo once said that in the music of Beethoven, “the dreamer will recognise his dreams, the … More details …
The Natural World: owls and birdsong
Part 1 Owls: Their natural history and conservation. This 3 week course looks at Owls with British focus, as we look at their evolution, special adaptations, habitats, and individual species breakdown. We will also look at conservation of Owls. After … More details …
Robert and Clara Schumann
It’s one of the greatest love stories in western classical music – Robert and Clara Schumann. But how did this archetypal romantic relationship contribute to the musical developments and intentions of the nineteenth century? During the day we’ll explore the … More details …
Modern Scottish Poetry
In this course we will explore the range of locations and contexts that have inspired the rich tradition of poetry in Scotland. From the islands of Orkney to urban Edinburgh and Glasgow, both male and female poets from very diverse … More details …
Florence and the Dawn of the Renaissance
Why did the renaissance start in Florence? Florentine art and history at the time of Fra Angelico, Uccello, Botticelli and others. What was it about 15th century Florence that provided the ingredients for an apparent explosion of art and culture? … More details …
Tchaikovsky: Passion, Power and Pathos
This course is now fully booked. Please contact us if you would like to be placed on a waiting list for any cancellations. Today, we’ll explore the enduring appeal and significance of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s music. Few composers have managed … More details …
Great Spanish Masters II
Joaquin Sorolla was a huge success in his own lifetime; his depictions of women, children and the sea proving highly popular with public and collectors alike. We look at how Picasso began, including his beautiful blue and rose periods, concluding … More details …
Rachmaninov: Wandering Ghost
This day of music and discovery charts the life and legacy of Sergei Rachmaninov, whose sweeping melodies and heart-stopping harmonies capture a world lost to time. From the grandeur of his piano concertos to the aching nostalgia of his symphonies … More details …
Six Contemporary English Poets
On this three week course we will look at representative examples of the variety of poetry that is being written in England at present, and where possible listen to recordings of the poets reading their own work. These will include … More details …
Evolution of Classical Music
From caveman grunts to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Debussy – join Ben England for a thrilling journey through the story of classical music. Ever wondered how the raw, primal sounds of our ancient ancestors evolved into the sweeping symphonies of … More details …
Ancient Sparta
The Spartans had a reputation that has lasted through the centuries: even today people use the term ‘Spartan’ as a descriptive. But who were they and what were they really like? This course outlines how Spartan society was organised, including … More details …
Jon Singer Sargent and fellow artists
After the scandal of “Madame X” (1884), Sargent had to flee Paris. This course surveys what he did next, how he settled in London, and became the most sought-after portrait painter of his day. We also consider his surprising later … More details …
The Origins of Us: the deep evolutionary story of our bodies
How did we come to be here? How did our bodies, our five senses and our exceptional brains evolve? Life emerged on our planet about 3.8 billion years ago as tiny sea dwelling bacteria: in a very real sense these … More details …