Membership
Treat yourself or a loved one with the gift of Membership: enjoy free access to all exhibitions, access to our Members’ Room, priority booking to evening talks, and much more.
Join today
Arts of China (Plus Gallery Talks)
Year course
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
.jpg)
Join us at V&A South Kensington as we explore ancient jade and bronze to later paintings, textiles, ceramics and decorative arts to follow the development of Chinese art up to the modern period.
To support your learning, lecture recordings and study materials, lecture notes, copies of the presentations, and additional study materials will be made available in our secure Microsoft Teams environment for 10 weeks after the course ends, so you'll never miss a thing. While you're there, you can join the conversation: share your perspective with your fellow students, and support each other in your further enquiries outside of class time.
> Prefer the flexibility of online? Book now for Arts of China (Online) .
To support your learning, lecture recordings and study materials, lecture notes, copies of the presentations, and additional study materials will be made available in our secure Microsoft Teams environment for 10 weeks after the course ends, so you'll never miss a thing. While you're there, you can join the conversation: share your perspective with your fellow students, and support each other in your further enquiries outside of class time.
> Prefer the flexibility of online? Book now for Arts of China (Online) .
Course Leader
Dr. Helen Glaister
Art Historian Dr Helen Glaister specialises in Chinese Ceramics and Decorative Arts. Before the V&A, she worked at the British Museum and Birkbeck, University of London. Helen was awarded her PhD from SOAS, where she still teaches. Current research focusses collections history, Chinese lacquer and ceramics of the late modern period.
For me the course is pitched at exactly the right level and I really enjoyed the combination of broad learning with some much more details lectures on specific topics. Excellent balance, and wonderful lecturers. Previous V&A Academy Attendee
V&A Academy. A learning environment you can trust.
Being up close with treasured objects from the V&A's collections brings your learning to life. Get precious time with incredible exemplars, as well as with our expert tutors and your fellow learners. Find out more >>
Course overview
From ancient tombs to the imperial palaces of Beijing, this Asian art course traces the rich artistic and cultural history of China. Jade, bronze and ceramic artefacts provide some of the earliest evidence of sophisticated art forms, reflecting aspects of diverse belief systems and ritual practices. Trade and religion connected often distant communities, along the fabled Silk Routes on land and sea, introducing new artistic currents and the influx of luxury items to China – silver, glass, ivory and precious stones – and the export of silk and ceramics prized as rare commodities abroad. From tea wares to court robes and literati treasures, the V&A collection reflects the wealth of artistic traditions found across China throughout the imperial period and up to the modern age.
Enrol now
Year course: Arts of China (Plus Gallery Talks)
22 September 2025 - 24 November 2025
£645.00
Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)
