American Samoa: Children's Summer Arts Program

The Children’s Summer Arts Program uses intergenerational learning to preserve Samoan culture. Photo courtesy of American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture & Humanities

Nearly 90% of American Samoa’s population is of Samoan descent, making the preservation of Samoan culture a central priority for the American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture, & Humanities (ASCACH). Through a wide range of initiatives, the agency strengthens cultural identity and provides meaningful opportunities for young people to connect with their heritage and the traditions of Fa’a Samoa—the art forms, language, values and customs that comprise the traditional Samoan way of life.

A flagship example of this commitment is ASCACH’s annual Children’s Summer Arts Program. During summer 2026, the Council conducted a three-week program serving 180 youth, ages 7–13, through three one-week sessions, with an average enrollment of 60 students per session.

Participants received immersive, hands-on instruction from local artists, master cultural practitioners, and respected elders in six Samoan art forms: Siva Samoa (traditional dance), siapo (bark cloth making), vane la’au (wood carving), elei (traditional fabric block printing), lalaga (traditional weaving) and ukulele. The involvement of culture bearers and elders created meaningful intergenerational learning opportunities, allowing traditional knowledge, techniques and cultural values to be passed directly from one generation to the next.

Throughout the program, students created original works in multiple disciplines, which they proudly showcased to their families and community members at the conclusion of each weekly session. Beyond artistic skill development, the program immersed participants in the Samoan language, customs and cultural practices, fostering a deeper understanding of their identity and heritage.

The Jean P. Haydon Museum, the official repository of American Samoa’s cultural and historical collections, hosted the program. The initiative was conducted in partnership with the Territorial Administration on Aging and the American Samoa Department of Education.

Today, Indigenous Samoan culture faces increasing challenges from climate change, natural disasters, migration, globalization and shifting economic conditions. By providing youth with authentic, hands-on experiences rooted in Fa’a Samoa, ASCACH is strengthening community pride, encouraging cultural continuity, and ensuring that the knowledge, traditions and artistic practices of Samoa are carried forward for future generations.