| Established | 1919 |
|---|---|
| Type | Adult Education |
| Principal & Chief Executive | Peter Davies |
| Location | Keeley Street Covent Garden London WC2B 4BA England |
| Students | 24,000 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | –no upper age limit |
| Website | www.citylit.ac.uk/ |
City Literary Institute (popularly known as 'City Lit') is an adult education college based in central London, offering 3,000 part-time courses. It was established in 1919,[1] with the purpose of educating London's workforce after the war. Currently, roughly 23,000 students a year take part in evening, daytime and weekend courses.
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In 1918 after the war, the London County Council wanted to strengthen non-vocational education. They approved the opening of five literary institutes: Plumstead and Woolwich, Marylebone, Dalston, Peckham, and City Literary Institute.They took their first students in September 1919. At the time, it was a radically different approach to adult education. Their first four classrooms were leased from a teacher training college.[1] City Literary Institute is now the sole survivor of London’s Literary Institute movement and is popularly known as City Lit.
City Lit's courses include art, drama, dance, comedy, creative writing, history, philosophy, languages, computing, counselling, music, health and fitness. They also offer specialist areas including education for deaf adults, courses for adults with learning disabilities and work in stammering therapy. [2] It also provides professional training for the film and television industries, with courses in journalism and screenwriting.
In 2005, City Lit moved to new, purpose-designed premises on Keeley Street, which are fully accessible to people with a disability. In 2007 they were the first adult education college to be given the Queen's Anniversary Prize, to mark their international reputation in stammering therapy.