IHOBF reaches thousands of students, teachers and others annually nationwide with arts and cultural educational programming that promotes cultural understanding and encourages creative expression. IHOBF programs are primarily offered to 5th-12th grade students and teachers in IHOBF locations and are also made available to other youth, adult and community groups.
Program Outcomes
Outcomes from IHOBF programming include the following:
- Students and teachers learn about blues music and blues-inspired music through live musical presentations by professional musicians.
- Students and teachers view and discuss folk art.
- Students and teachers explore aspects of American culture and history through blues music, blues-inspired music and visual arts.
- Students and teachers learn about diverse cultures from around the world through drumming and drum-based music activities.
- Students and teachers participate in hands-on music and visual arts learning activities through workshops and artist visits to classrooms by professional artists.
- Students and teachers attend artistic performances.
- Students perform and exhibit their artistic creations in public settings.
- Teachers receive training and resources to support the integration of arts and cultural learning activities into their classrooms and other educational settings (resources and content align with state educational standards).
- School and community-based music and visual arts programs receive support in the form of musical instruments and accessories, art supplies, curricular materials, and other resources.
Benefits to Participants
Research indicates that arts programs and experiences:
- Foster creativity and cross-cultural understanding
- Support the development of critical thinking and communication skills
- Promote individuality, bolster self-confidence, and improve academic performance
Arts experiences challenge participants to:
- Experiment with different learning styles
- Explore diverse modes of expression
- Examine multiple perspectives