Art & The Holocaust

The 2025 Art Show was a great success.

Looking forward to 2026!

The Institute for Holocaust Education invites middle school art teachers and their students to participate in an annual Holocaust-related project.

In order to build knowledge of the Holocaust participating teachers will teach a Holocaust lesson provided by the IHE to their students during at least one full class period before commencing with the visual art portion of the project.

Suggested projects are literature-inspired murals, an artifact collage, a charcoal portrait of a victim of the Holocaust or of someone who has a shared life experience. Upon completion, students prepare a written reflection on the project. The IHE provides curriculum resources for each project and  a stipend of $2.00 per participating student for the implementation of this project and the necessary art supplies.

Each year the project culminates in an exhibit of student artwork in the Eisenberg Art Gallery at the Jewish Community Center along with a reception for the artists, their parents, and their teachers.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1. To become familiar with individual people and cultural history in the Holocaust.
2. To use art as a method to learn about the Holocaust.
3. To understand and apply portraiture and experience media while learning about individuals of the Holocaust.
4. To understand visual arts in relation to history and other disciplines and to relate that knowledge to the student’s current life.
5. To reflect upon the effectiveness of the project.

For more information about the project, please contact us:  info@ihene.org

 

View all of the finalists’ artwork here. 

 

Art and the Holocaust - Educator Participation Agreement

The Institute for Holocaust Education (IHE) invites middle school art educators (grades 6–8) to participate in a meaningful, educational art initiative that explores the Holocaust through student creativity and reflection. Program Overview: Participating educators will guide their students in creating visual art projects, supported by background education and thoughtful reflection of the Holocaust. This powerful experience will culminate in a community art exhibition held at the Jewish Community Center in April 2026, featuring selected student artwork. The event will include students, families, educators, and IHE staff.

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
I have taught / will be teaching at least one full classroom period of instruction on the Holocaust to my students on ______________ (date).
The IHE provides a stipend of $2.00 per participating student for the implementation of this project and the necessary art supplies.
Agreement statement(Required)
I agree to have my students complete the appropriate Reflection Sheet.
Agreement statement(Required)
I will submit all completed Reflection Sheets along with my Lesson Summary form to the Institute for Holocaust Education (scanned and emailed to jnesbit@ihene.org or mailed to 333 S. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154)
Agreement statement(Required)
When requested, I will provide the IHE with select student artwork to be exhibited at the Jewish Community Center Gallery in April 2026.
Agreement statement(Required)
I will receive confirmation from IHE staff to participate in this project. Including relevant resources including suggested lesson plans and further details regarding the program.