WEA Course Information Sheet 2014-15
Course title: An Introduction to Woolf, Bell and the Art & Literature of the Bloomsbury Group
Course reference: C3526032
Tutor(s): Sarah Phillips MA
Venue: Seend Community Centre, Rusty Lane, Seend, Melksham, SN12 6PS.
Start date: Saturday March 21st
Number of sessions: 1 session
End date: Saturday
March 21st
Hours per session: 6
Fee: £25
Day(s)/time(s): 10:30am – 4.30pm
Level: 2
Lunch 1pm – 2pm – please bring your own lunch
Title of qualification to be gained (if any): n/a
Awarding body (if any): n/a
Essential materials
None required.
Course aims: A deeper understanding and critical appreciation of the life and work of Virginia
Woolf and Vanessa Bell. A Richer summary of the Bloomsbury Group as a whole and their central
importance as writers, artists, art critics and economists to early Twentieth Century British Culture.
Course description:
The controversial, influential avant-garde Bloomsbury Group: painters, writers, art critics and
economists; at the heart of which were the two sisters: the Modernist writer Virginia Woolf and the
English Post Impressionist painter Vanessa Bell.
Any prior knowledge or entry requirements? None required.
It would be useful to read Virginia Woolf’s short story Kew Gardens.
Course content: what topics will the course cover?
Virginia & Vanessa, the two Stephen sisters at the ‘heart’ of Bloomsbury.
Introduction to the Bloomsbury Group and their circle.
Clive Bell’s childhood family home is Cleve House, Seend.
The Art of Bloomsbury: Roger Fry, Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant
The Post Impressionist Exhibitions of 1910 & 1912 & the Omega Workshop
An introduction to Charleston Farmhouse the home of Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and Clive Bell
An introduction to Virginia Woolf, Leonard Woolf & the Hogarth Press and the short story Kew
Gardens.
Teaching, learning and assessment methods:
Demonstration
Discussion
/
Group work
/
Individual
work
Project work
Question and
answer
Presentation
/
/
Research
Activity outside
class time
Field trip
Role play
Written work
Observation
Practical work
Other (state)
How will I receive feedback on my learning progress and achievement?
I give feedback through conversation with my students. I also encourage individual research and
further reading to any who would like to do more, and always provide a further reading list.
Learning outcomes: these are the intended outcomes and may be revised in discussion with the
class. Students are encouraged to think about and identify their own individual outcomes.
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1.
 Identify the leading members of the Bloomsbury Group.
2.
3.

Assess the connections between the writers and artists within the Bloomsbury Group
and within the period discussed.

Read and discuss within the group as a whole Virginia Woolf’s short story Kew
Gardens.
4.
5.
The Workers’ Educational Association is a charity registered in England and Wales, number
1112775, and in Scotland, number SC039239, and a company limited by guarantee registered in
England and Wales, number 2806910. Our Registered Office address is 4 Luke Street, London,
EC2A 4XW.
www.wea.org.uk
Reading and information sources:
Please try and read Virginia Woolf’s short story Kew Gardens
Further reading ideas:
DUNN Jane 1990 A Very Close Conspiracy: Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf,
LEE Hermoine 1997 Virginia Woolf, London: Vintage.
BRIGGS Julia 2006 Virginia Woolf: An Inner Life, London: Penguin
WOOLF V 2002 Moments of Being, Autobiographical Writings, London: Pimlico
BELL Q & NICHOLSON V, 1997, Charleston a Bloomsbury House & Garden.
SHONE R 1999 The Art of Bloomsbury, London: Tate Gallery
WWW.Charleston.org.uk – view website to look at some of their art. Also the Tate Gallery
collection on line.
Brief Tutor Profile
MA English Literature 1848 – 1930, University of Wales, Newport, 2007 – 2010
PTLLS Qualification: ‘Preparing to teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, 2010
Diploma in the History of the Fine & Decorative Arts, London University 1989 – 1990
BSc Hons. History, Philosophy & Social Sciences, University of Bath 1982 – 1985
Career at Courtauld Institute of Art 1990 - 1996
Freelance Lecturer, WEA Tutor and Events Organiser.
Speaker At Bath Spa University Conference: ‘Bloomsbury Adaptations’ May 2011.
Published Monograph on Virginia Woolf by Cecil Woolf Bloomsbury Heritage 2012.
Speaker Virginia Woolf Society Annual Conference, April 5 th 2014
Member of the Virginia Woolf Society & the Charleston Trust.
Attended many WEA & Adult Education courses.
Suggestions for progression to further study or for using the skills and knowledge gained:
More WEA courses, local colleges & University degrees, Open University. Museums & Art
Galleries.
You can read about your entitlements and responsibilities as a WEA student in our leaflet, Services for
Students here http://www.wea.org.uk/courses/information This includes information on fees, learning
support and financial support.
As part of your first course you accept a learning agreement. This applies to all courses you take in this
academic year. You should have a copy of the learning agreement (the tear-off portion of your enrolment
form), but if not please ask for a copy from your tutor.
You can enrol online for some courses http://www.wea.org.uk/courses or contact WEA South
West Region, Bradninch Court, Castle Street, Exeter, EX4 3PL, 01392 457300.
The Workers’ Educational Association is a charity registered in England and Wales, number
1112775, and in Scotland, number SC039239, and a company limited by guarantee registered in
England and Wales, number 2806910. Our Registered Office address is 4 Luke Street, London,
EC2A 4XW.
www.wea.org.uk