OVERVIEW
HistoryCraft is a collaborative art storytelling experience that will help participants learn deeply about important lessons related to the Japanese American (JA) World War II and post-war history in a hands-on, engaging environment.

This is a participatory experience in which small teams work together to create physical art pieces that they use to craft a narrative about a specific family member. Each team’s stories contribute to an overarching historical narrative about a Japanese American family going through the wartime experience.

HistoryCraft is designed to be an engaging and thought-provoking experience that allows participants to understand and think deeply about this important piece of U.S. history and why this history is relevant today.

No previous knowledge about Japanese American history is required.

LOCATION AND DATES
Sessions will be located in-person in the Los Angeles area, dates TBA. Elsewhere in the U.S. or internationally, we can also facilitate schools and community/educational organizations to host HistoryCraft in your local area. Please fill out this interest form if you’re interested.

TARGET AUDIENCE
All ages from students to older adults.

PARTICIPANT EXPERIENCE
Each team will be assigned a specific family character (father, daughter, etc.) about whom they will be creating a narrative throughout the entire experience.

The experience will be divided into four narrative segments that pertain to specific chapters in Japanese American incarceration history: forced evacuation, camp hardships, dealing with hardships (gaman), and resettlement after the war.

In each narrative segment, each team will create a short story about how they feel their assigned character would react or behave based on the situation or prompt. Teams will have a specific amount of time to complete their short story.

Teams will use physical and/or digital media to create 2D or 3D artwork that they can use to help tell their character’s story. Paper, pens, tape, glue, and other materials are provided on each table. Access to printers or other technology is also available.

At the end of each narrative segment, each team takes turns to share their story about their assigned character. Teams can decide on their own how they want to share their stories (e.g., one person talks, the entire team takes turns talking about each media piece, roleplay, etc.)

MORE INFORMATION
To get on to the sign up list or for more information about HistoryCraft, please fill out this interest form.

HistoryCraft was made possible with support from the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program.

HistoryCraft is a production of Japantown Productions.