Dear Settlement Members and Friends,
The Settlement Summer School 2025 is open for booking! This year, we have a truly wonderful selection of activities on offer which I think you will enjoy, so do please reserve your places now! Here is the full list:
Monday 14th July
LECTURE: THE ECONOMICS BEHIND THE AI REVOLUTION
Hear guest speaker Nick Gardener describe the economic implications of the rapidly developing world of artificial intelligence. 7 – 8.30pm; FREE
The economics behind the AI revolution – Letchworth Settlement
Thursday 17th July
LECTURE: ROOTS TO REMEDIES: A MEDICINAL TALK BY BECKY ULLAH
Art meets medicine in this fascinating new lecture by Settlement Artist-in-Residence, Becky Ullah. 7-9pm; FREE
Roots to Remedies: A Medicinal Talk by Resident Artist Becky Ullah – Letchworth Settlement
Saturday 19th July
LECTURE: THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA
Hear about one of the most recognised and visited landmarks in the world, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, with science and engineering explainer, Tim Parrott. 10am – 12pm; £15
The Leaning Tower of Pisa – Letchworth Settlement
EVENT: FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY
Enjoy a fabulous night of live stand-up comedy featuring headliner Arthur Smith (Edinburgh Fringe; BBC Radio 4; and much more). 7-10pm; £13
Sunday 20th July
CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP: WRITING CONVINCING DIALOGUE
With tutor Elizabeth Barber, consider the nature of real conversations and how to convey them in your own creative work. 10am – 3.30pm; £42
Writing Convincing Dialogue – Letchworth Settlement
Monday 21st July
LECTURE: DYNASTY: THE SHAPE OF CHINESE HISTORY
Gain insight into the cyclical pattern of Chinese history with historian Michael Williams. 10am – 12pm: £15
Dynasty: The Shape of Chinese History – Letchworth Settlement
ARTS & CRAFTS: INTRODUCTION TO WATERCOLOURS
If you are new to watercolours, start here with Settlement Artist-in-Residence Becky Ullah. 10am – 12pm: £20
Introduction to Watercolours – Letchworth Settlement
LECTURE: SIXTY YEARS ON: WAS 1965 MUSIC’S BEST EVER YEAR?
Survey and reflect on a time of intense creativity with musicologist Stephen Barnard. 7-9pm; £15
Sixty years on: was 1965 music’s best ever year? – Letchworth Settlement
Tuesday 22nd July
WELLBEING: TAI CHI SWORD AND FAN
This taster session of Tai Chi Sword (Jian) and Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan will give those students who have already gained experience of the Tai Chi Hand Forms a chance to enhance their understanding. Not suitable for absolute beginners. Practise swords and fans will be provided. 10am – 12pm; £15
Tai Chi & Qigong: Swords & Fans – Letchworth Settlement
LECTURE: CORRUPTION IN BRITISH POLITICS
We welcome back speaker Bill Lindsay for a chance to consider, from a historical perspective, how politics goes wrong. 7-9pm; £15
Corruption in British Politics in the 1850s – Letchworth Settlement
Wednesday 23rd July
LECTURE: ART NOUVEAU AND ITS NATIONAL VARIETIES
Here is a unique chance to hear Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies at Richmond American University, London, Dr Alex Seago talk on a subject that he knows very well. 10am –12pm; £15
Art Nouveau and its National Varieties – Letchworth Settlement
ARTS & CRAFTS: PAINTING ANIMALS IN ACRYLIC
Artist Sally Taylor will show you how to create realistic-looking, vibrant images. 9.30am – 12pm; £26
Painting Animals in Acrylic – Letchworth Settlement
ARTS & CRAFTS: MAKE A COUNTRY FRAME BASKET
Make your own charming, traditional willow frame basket! 10am – 4.30pm; £74
Make a Country Frame Basket – Letchworth Settlement
ARTS & CRAFTS: Collage Workshop with Callum Abbott
Explore 20th century collages, then create your own! 1-3pm; £15
Collage Workshop with Callum Abbott – Letchworth Settlement
LECTURE: THE 1960s AND THE BIRTH OF MODERN PROTEST
Following last year’s fascinating talk about the Woodstock Music Festival, we welcome back historian Kathryn Brooks Hughes as she examines how the emergence of the civil rights movement remains relevant today. 7-9pm; £15
The 1960s and the birth of modern protest – Letchworth Settlement
Thursday 24th July
ARTS & CRAFTS: WILLOW BREAD BASKET WORKSHOP
Suitable for beginners, here is a chance to weave a willow basket to take away, under the guidance of expert, Hazel Godfrey. 10am – 4.30pm; £74
Willow Bread Basket Workshop – Letchworth Settlement
ARTS & CRAFTS: THREADS OF CONFIDENCE: PATCHWORK & QUILTING FOR EVERY LEVEL
Join Sheena Roberts for this fun one-day workshop. Suitable for all.
Find out more here https://bit.ly/4kY5UP7
Email the tutor at Sheena@greenmanquilts.co.uk for the materials list. Note: you will need to bring your sewing machine and pedal. 10am – 4pm; £45
Threads of Confidence: Patchwork & Quilting for Every Level – Letchworth Settlement
LECTURE: MAP AS ART: ART AS MAPPING
Join Simon Harvey as he considers how artists have continually been inspired by the concept and wonder of maps. 10am -12pm: £15
Map as Art; Art as Mapping – Letchworth Settlement
LECTURE: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO DATING BUILDING BY EYE
With historian (and Settlement Trustee), Katherine Alcock, here you can learn some of the key visual clues to help assess the age of a building. 7-9pm; £15
A Beginner’s Guide to Dating Buildings by Eye – Letchworth Settlement
Friday 25th July
ARTS & CRAFTS: MAKE A CROWN BOOK
Learn something about the wonderful art of bookmaking with expert Andrea Burden. 10am – 1pm; £22
Make a Crown Book – Letchworth Settlement
LECTURE: EASY RIDER AND AMERICAN GRAFFIT (A CLASSIC ALBUMS SOUNDTRACK SPECIAL)
Consider the electrifying effect of rock music used on the soundtrack of two iconic movies. 10am – 1.30pm; £15
Easy Rider and American Graffiti (A Classic Albums soundtrack special) – Letchworth Settlement
LECTURE: AN INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL STUDIES
Begin a magnificent journey into arts, culture and humanity as seen through the eyes of the ancient Greeks and Romans. 1-3pm; £15
An introduction to Classical Studies – Letchworth Settlement
Feel free to encourage a friend to book – the Summer School is open to members and non-members!
Very best wishes,
-Nick
