Art & the Holocaust is an annual art program offered by The Institute for Holocaust Education (IHE) for middle school art teachers and their students that connects Holocaust history with visual art and reflection. The program is designed for middle school students (grades 6 – 8). Participating classrooms receive support from IHE, which includes the curriculum materials and a modest stipend to assist with art materials and project costs.

After introducing students to Holocaust history and the experience of survivors, using the provided curriculum, students create artwork inspired by what they’ve learned. Students create collages or portraiture of historical figures connected to Holocaust history. Written reflections accompany the artwork, providing space for students to express their creative choices and learning process.

The program concludes with a public exhibition of student artwork at the Eisenberg Art Gallery at the Jewish Community Center and a reception recognizing student participants, families, and educators in April.

The goal of the program is for students to understand Holocaust history through personal narratives, provide connection to history through visual arts, and allow for students to reflect on content and artistic expression.

Signing up for Art and the Holocaust is easy. Visit our website: Art and the Holocaust and fill out the form available at the bottom of the page. Once you have registered, you will receive more details from a member of our staff.

View the artwork from the 2026 Exhibit

This kit includes photographs showcasing the Art & the Holocaust Gallery Night. These photos are available for use in newsletters, school communications, and social media posts to help highlight students’ experiences, celebrate community engagement, and raise awareness of the program.

In this kit, you will find a poster and additional graphics to share with parents and your school community about the program and the Gallery Night. Please help us share this information to support this meaningful educational experience.

If you would like to create posters or invites for the Gallery Opening Reception, please click here: Art and the Holocaust on Canva

To personalize your invitation in Canva, click File in the upper-left corner and select Make a copy from the dropdown menu. Once your copy has been created, you can edit the invitation with your school’s information, dates, times, and any other details you’d like to customize.

If you or your school share photos and highlights from your visit on social media, we would greatly appreciate your help in raising awareness about this important and impactful educational program.

When posting on Facebook or Instagram, please tag us: @IHENE

In addition to any hashtags you may already use, we ask that you include:
#ihene #holocausteducation #art&holocaust

To make posting easy, we have provided a few sample social media captions below. Feel free to use them as written or tailor them to reflect your students’ unique experiences and takeaways from the day.

Thank you for helping us share the importance of Holocaust education and inspiring future generations to choose humanity, compassion, and courage in the face of injustice.

Option 1 Peer to Peer Recruitment:

If you’re a middle school art teacher looking for a meaningful student project, I highly recommend the @ihene program, Art & the Holocaust. IHE provides excellent classroom resources, support for materials, and opportunities for students to engage deeply with history through artistic expression. My students created some of their most thoughtful and impactful work during this project.

The experience encouraged reflection, empathy, and creativity in ways that extended far beyond the art room.

Learn more here:
Art & the Holocaust Program

#ArtTeachers #ArtsIntegration #MiddleSchoolEducation #TeachingWithPurpose #ihene #holocausteducation #art&holocaust

Option 2- Reflection:

My students have been working on a powerful project through Art & the Holocaust, exploring individual stories from Holocaust history and responding through visual art.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve examined personal narratives, historical artifacts, and literature that helped students connect with real people and experiences. The artwork they’ve created reflects themes of resilience, remembrance, loss, and hope, and I’m incredibly proud of the thoughtfulness they’ve brought to this work.

Art has a unique ability to help students process history in meaningful ways, and this project has sparked some of the most insightful conversations we’ve had all year.

#ArtEducation #HolocaustEducation #StudentArtists #MiddleSchoolArt  #ihene #holocausteducation #art&holocaust

Option 3 – Invite to the Gallery:

Excited to celebrate my students’ artwork at the @IHENE Art & the Holocaust exhibition!

This project challenged students to think deeply about history, human experiences, and the role art can play in remembrance. Through portraiture, collage, and mixed media work, they explored stories of survival, courage, and resilience.

Their creativity, reflection, and dedication have been inspiring to witness. Stop by the JCC’s Eisenburg Gallery between ____ & _____ to see their work displayed alongside projects from other schools.

#StudentExhibition #ArtEducation #MiddleSchoolArt #CreativeLearning #ihene #holocausteducation #art&holocaust

The Institute for Holocaust Education (IHE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching the history and lessons of the Holocaust through educational resources, professional development, survivor testimony, and arts-based programming. Serving students, educators, and the broader community, IHE fosters critical thinking about prejudice, racism, human rights, moral responsibility, and civic engagement while supporting Holocaust survivors and their families in our region. Through its programs, IHE empowers learners of all ages to understand the causes and consequences of the Holocaust and apply its lessons to contemporary challenges.

For more information, visit IHE’s website: https://ihene.org/.

Institute for Holocaust Education