Preserving Cultural Heritage through AI-powered Art Education: A Project-based Study in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Art Education in preserving cultural heritage in North Central Nigeria through a project-based learning approach. As cultural traditions face erosion due to modernization, there is a critical need to leverage innovative educational strategies to document, revitalize, and transmit indigenous knowledge. This research adopted a mixed-methods design, combining qualitative insights from interviews and focus group discussions with quantitative data collected through structured questionnaires administered to Art Educators, Students, and Cultural Stakeholders across selected institutions in the region. The intervention component involved collaborative art projects where learners used AI tools to research, visualize, and reinterpret local heritage artifacts and narratives. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), which facilitated descriptive statistics, paired sample t-tests, and Regression Analysis to measure the impact of the AI-powered Art Education on participants' cultural awareness and creative engagement. The findings highlighted a significant improvement in learners’ understanding and appreciation of cultural heritage, as well as enhanced digital Art literacy. This study underscores the transformative potential of AI in art education and its implications for sustainable cultural preservation in contemporary African societies.