Hmong Cultural Customs Arts Instructional Programs

The Cultural Customs Arts program at Hmong Cultural Center teaches the public about important Hmong folk arts forms associated with major Hmong life cycle ceremonies including the wedding and funeral ceremonies. Cultural Customs instructional programs offered at the Hmong Cultural Center include Qeej instrument classes. The Qeej instrument goes back hundreds of years in Hmong culture, it plays an essential role in Hmong funerals and has been described as a key cultural identifier of Hmong people worldwide.

Qeej classes at Hmong Cultural Center teach children and youth aged 7-18 years old Qeej songs and dances associated with Hmong funerals as well those used for entertainment purposes. Hmong Cultural Center is the only organization in Minnesota that offers Qeej instrument lessons. The Legacy grant will support a new Qeej teacher position at Hmong Cultural Center allowing the center to increase its capacity to teach the community about this important aspect of the historical, cultural and folk arts heritage of Hmong Minnesotans. Currently at Hmong Cultural Center 4 teachers serve 50 children and youth students. The grant will help increase the center's ability to meet the very high demand in the Hmong community for Qeej instrument classes. Legacy grant funds will also help the center enhance its marketing of the Qeej program to the local community through Hmong media, social media and other media outlets.