What's On

Tai Chi provides core balance, harmony, and wellbeing. Although considered a martial art, Tai Chi is also meditative and an energising exercise.  On this course, seasoned tutor Devdan will guide students through Part 2 of the traditional long form of the Yang style.   Students are advised to wear comfortable clothing to allow stretching and smooth-soled exercise […]

Tai Chi provides core balance, harmony, and wellbeing. Although considered a martial art, Tai Chi is also meditative and an energising exercise. Continuing through Part 3, experienced Devdan will guide students through the progression of the 108 movements of the traditional long form of the Yang style.   Students are advised to wear comfortable clothing to allow […]

Tai Chi provides core balance, harmony, and wellbeing. Although considered a martial art, Tai Chi is also meditative and an energising exercise.  For those who have completed and assimilated the 108 Yang Long Form, this course works on refining the flow of the movements and explores related forms such as 24, 48 and sword.   Students are […]

In this online course we will explore insights from Bertrand Russell and Fernando Pessoa. Russell views boredom as a barrier to happiness, urging us to seek meaningful pursuits, while Pessoa invites us to embrace boredom as a space for introspection and creativity, leading to self-discovery. Throughout the session, we’ll encourage participants to rethink their experiences […]

Join tutor Songül for this afternoon course and continue to learn how to use the medium of soft pastels. Songül will guide you step by step, helping you to master blending techniques and experience the versatility of the medium. Some drawing experience needed. A list of required materials and equipment will be provided, a guideline […]

Literally meaning ‘Life Energy Cultivation’, Qigong has its roots in Chinese medicine, philosophy, Tai Chi and martial arts. A holistic system of coordinated body posture, movement, and breathing, Qigong is beneficial for health and balance. The cultivation of Chi (Qi) – the flow of energy – enables meditation through mindful movement of the body.   Students […]

Tai Chi provides core balance, harmony, and wellbeing. Although considered a martial art, Tai Chi is also meditative and an energising exercise.  On this course, tutor Devdan will introduce Yang Style Tai Chi concentrating on short forms; a series of continuous, flowing movements which are performed slowly and gracefully. The forms are learnt gradually, posture by […]

Enjoy developing and channelling your writing abilities. Writing forms covered include novels, plays, poems, short stories, and memoirs. Classes will cover many aspects of writing, such as getting started, shaping stories, creating characters, guidelines on getting published. With an emphasis on individual development, there will be reading and discussion of your work in a friendly […]

One of the first artists to appreciate Welsh scenery was the Welsh-born eighteenth century painter, Richard Wilson. As The taste for wild and dramatic scenes grew, Wales became an essential destination for nineteenth century landscapists, including De Loutherbourg, Turner, Samuel Palmer, and the watercolourist David Cox.  It continued to inspire painters, including Graham Sutherland, into […]

Mercury – the innermost planet, and the one most difficult to see against the glare of the Sun. In this day school we shall explore how we have come to understand the nature of Mercury from the first telescopic observations to more recent radar imaging and space missions: such as Mariner 10, MESSENGER and BepiColombo. […]

In this course we will explore the rich variety of themes and styles of such contrasting ground-breaking poets including T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden, Dylan Thomas, Walt Whitman, Wilfred Owen and Thomas Hardy. We will explore the poetry’s depth of feeling and relation to world events, with some consideration of the musicality created by forms, such […]

This foundation course is for people with no or little knowledge of the Italian language and culture and will enable the participants to feel comfortable when exchanging basic personal information in informal conversations. You will also learn how to ask for directions, order food and drinks, book tickets and accommodation. Basic reading and writing will […]

May is a time for flowers, and signals summer is on its way. This poetry course will celebrate flowers and gardens. A selection of poems will be provided to delight and intrigue you. Discussion always welcome.   Copies of the poems will be provided. 

Join us in V Café on alternate Wednesday mornings at our ‘chatter and natter’ table. Run by our friendly table volunteers, we aim to provide a welcoming space for individuals to come together to chat and socialise.

In this three-week course you will practise depicting landscapes with elements such as field, trees, and buildings. Tutor Songül will demonstrate and give you one-to-one guidance when needed  Some watercolour experience needed. A materials list will be provided.

Mike has previously talked at the Institute about the London underground and Paris Metro and now he returns to look at the Moscow Metro. Mike will share his life-long interest in art and architecture, using images, to look at the magnificent stations of the Moscow Metro. Their design, décor and art, long recognised as the […]

Would you like to practise your German speaking skills? Come and chat once a week to improve your conversational German. Topics to be agreed upon within the group, but could be about family, free time, holidays and practical skills for coping when abroad. Aimed at post-beginners/pre-intermediate/intermediate level. Not suitable for beginners. If you have any […]

Do you want to practise your French by engaging in conversation with others? Join native speaker Julie, to practise and exchange with others on a wide range of topics. In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, you will strengthen and expand your knowledge of the French language. This course is aimed at those who are confident […]

As a keen dancer herself, Jane Austen depicted dancing as a valuable form of entertainment in her novels. In these three sessions, you will learn more about dance education, etiquette and balls in the 18th century, exploring Jane Austen’s representation of balls and its dancers in three canonical novels: ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Emma’ and ‘Sense […]