Short Courses

Over four sessions, this course introduces learners to a selected piece of classical ballet repertoire performed in soft ballet. Each session includes structured barres exercises, centre work to develop specific techniques and steps, and guided learning of the repertoire choreography. You will build confidence in your movement quality, musicality and coordination while gaining insight into how classical ballet choreography is constructed and performed. This course is suitable for dancers with at least six months to one year of consistent ballet training who are comfortable executing basic ballet combinations.

This foundational course explores the historical evolution and cultural significance of Chinese calligraphy, tracing its origins from ancient China to its modern influence on artistic expression. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how this revered art form developed through different dynasties, studying iconic calligraphers such as Wang Xizhi and Zhang Xu and their contributions to various script styles. Hands-on sessions will introduce the Four Treasures of the Study—brush, ink, inkstone and rice paper—allowing students to practice fundamental brush techniques and master different script styles, including Seal Script (篆书), Clerical Script (隶书), Regular Script (楷书), Running Script (行 书) and …

Beginners with little to no experience in digital creative software should take on this Short Course to learn the fundamentals of Affinity, a free professional design app that combines vector, pixel and layout tools in one platform. Through step-by-step instruction and guided practice, you will learn the essential tools, workflows, and concepts needed to navigate the software effectively. Skills are reinforced through short, hands-on creative projects that encourage experimentation and practical application. By the end of the course, you will: Design and export a small set of finished assets, including at least one poster, one postcard and a one-page flyer. …

This eight-week programme introduces practical techniques to build awareness, resilience and overall well-being. Through mindfulness practices such as meditation, gentle movement and group sharing, you will learn to manage stress and daily challenges with greater calm and clarity. Over the duration of the course, you will take on weekly sessions and a retreat, experiencing a structured way to cultivate mindfulness skills that improve focus, creativity and relationships. Open to individuals from all backgrounds, this course provides a supportive environment for personal growth and self-awareness.

Cultural heritage is not easy to define, but it involves the idea of practices or values relating to people’s lives that are passed down from one generation to another. It includes architecture (monuments and sites considered valuable from the point of view of history, art or science), physical objects (considered important for archaeology, prehistory, history, literature, art or science) and practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills—and items and cultural spaces associated with them—that communities, groups and individuals recognise as culturally important to them. In this course, we will examine how the law is used to safeguard cultural heritage. We will …

Image credit: Ogata Korin, Irises, 1701-02, pair of folding screens, Wikimedia Commons, Nezu Art Museum This is an introductory course that explores Japan’s rich artistic heritage from the pre-modern to the modern period. Lectures and discussions will examine the cultural, historical and aesthetic contexts that shaped Japan’s traditions and its enduring influence. We will primarily discuss examples of visual culture, ranging from Jōmon pottery and Buddhist sculpture to opulent folding screens, Tale of Genji scrolls, Zen painting, Hokusai’s Ukiyo-e prints, and the pop art of Murakami and Yayoi Kusama. There will also be some discussion of performing arts and architecture. …

‘Mindfulness for Life’ is an evidence-based, structured eight-week programme developed by the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation at the University of Oxford. It is designed to help learners develop sustainable mindfulness practices that support mental well-being, emotional resilience and greater self-awareness in daily life. Drawing on principles of cognitive therapy and mindfulness meditation, it provides practical skills for recognising habitual patterns of mind, managing stress and responding more skilfully to life’s challenges. Through guided meditations, gentle movement, cognitive exercises, group dialogue and daily home practice, you will gain practical tools to recognise unhelpful thought patterns, respond more skilfully to challenging emotions, and …

An introduction to the world of editing, this course teaches methods and strategies that help you become a better reader, with focused and perceptive ways of understanding the text in front of you. Mechanics—the nuts and bolts of how we write—and intentions—reason and purpose—matter equally when approaching a text with an editing eye. Lessons and discussion points are focused around the craft of reading and writing. We will look at how being a good editor requires a combination of distance and closeness, and how this translates into your writing life. Each week, a new topic will be introduced with examples …

This course offers an introduction to the craft of poetry, exploring elements such as form, voice, rhythm and the sonic impact of language. Through readings ranging from classical poetry to contemporary works, you will examine how poetic traditions have evolved, both building on established structures and breaking convention to create new forms of expression. Each session features guided discussions, readings and writing exercises that encourage you to explore how poetry uses sound, imagery, movement and space to convey meaning. Inspired by works such as Billy Collins’ Introduction to Poetry, the course invites you to approach poetry with curiosity, creativity and …

Why do products look so good in photographs? Learn the techniques and technicalities of studio product photography, from lighting to product placement and composition. Understand the fundamental principles and challenges of product photography and how to use a full range of studio equipment, while exploring how different products respond to different types of light.  

This course is designed to deepen your understanding of truthful performance, focusing on authenticity, presence and genuine human connection. You will be guided beyond surface-level technique to explore how truthful acting emerges through listening, impulse and moment-to-moment response. Through structured exercises, improvisation, text work and scene exploration, you will develop greater emotional confidence and clarity of intention in making bold yet grounded choices. Key areas include active listening, reacting honestly, vocal nuance, physical awareness and connecting inner impulses to outward expression. Creativity is a central pillar of this course. You are encouraged to experiment and take creative risks while developing …

If you are interested and curious about arts and design, unleash your creativity in this workshop about zine-making. Through both design theory and crafty hands-on sessions, you will explore how to communicate ideas through printed matter. The core of this course focuses on the process of making a zine. You can grow your confidence and personal artistic voice through implementing art, writing, collage, comics and everything in between in crafting your DIY booklets. You will also learn about the history and culture of zines, and explore the conceptualisation process by exploring unique layouts and different binding techniques. Guided by a …