Where Can I Study Ikebana?
Below you will find links to Ikebana International and their various chapters throughout North America. If you would like to know more about Ikebana and have an Ikebana International chapter in your area, making contact with this organization is the best place to start. I have also included links to specific schools as well. Please note that many Ikebana International chapters and many individual school chapters do not have websites.
Ikebana International (I.I.) is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. When the late Ellen Gordon Allen founded the organization in 1956, her dream was to create an organization uniting the peoples of the world through their mutual love of nature and enjoyment of ikebana. That dream has now spread to over 50 countries.
Ikebana International does not teach any single type of ikebana. Rather, it is an interest group made up of people of many nationalities who enjoy Japanese culture and arts, including Ikebana. Many of the members have studied ikebana; some have not.
Through their participation in Ikebana International, those who have studied ikebana have learned from many different schools. Some schools of ikebana stress classical styles; others focus on contemporary forms, and some blend the two. Of the hundreds of schools of ikebana, each one takes its own approach to arranging flowers. At I.I. meetings, students and teachers share openly their own schools' inspirations, styles, philosophy, history, and techniques. You can read more about the history of Ikebana International by clicking (here) and (here).
Ikebana International does not teach any single type of ikebana. Rather, it is an interest group made up of people of many nationalities who enjoy Japanese culture and arts, including Ikebana. Many of the members have studied ikebana; some have not.
Through their participation in Ikebana International, those who have studied ikebana have learned from many different schools. Some schools of ikebana stress classical styles; others focus on contemporary forms, and some blend the two. Of the hundreds of schools of ikebana, each one takes its own approach to arranging flowers. At I.I. meetings, students and teachers share openly their own schools' inspirations, styles, philosophy, history, and techniques. You can read more about the history of Ikebana International by clicking (here) and (here).
Ikebana International Headquarters: http://www.ikebanaHQ.org
Washington D.C. Chapter: Washington D.C. Chapter (1)
Alabama: Jefferson County Chapter (137), Mobile Chapter (164)
Arizona: Sun Cities Chapter (167)
California: Los Angeles Chapter (4), Sacramento Chapter (26), San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (31), Fresno Chapter (91), San Diego Chapter (119), Monterey Bay Chapter (231)
Colorado: Denver Chapter (66), Colorado Springs Chapter (95)
Florida: St. Petersburg Chapter (65), Sarasota Chapter (115), Miami Chapter (131), Orlando-Winter Park Chapter (132), Imperial Polk Chapter (152), Naples Chapter (160), Melbourne Chapter (216)
Georgia: Augusta Chapter (81), Middle Georgia Chapter (112), Atlanta Chapter (265)
Hawaii: Honolulu Chapter (56)
Illinois: Chicago Chapter (27)
Louisiana: Baton Rouge Chapter (42), New Orleans Chapter (97)
Maryland: Baltimore Chapter (118)
Massachusetts: Boston Chapter (17)
Michigan: Detroit Chapter (85), Lansing Chapter (134), Traverse City Chapter (165), Ann Arbor Chapter (183)
Minnesota: Minneapolis/St.Paul Chapter (121)
Mississippi: Mississippi Chapter (254)
Missouri: St. Louis Chapter (3)
Montana: Chinook Chapter (8)
Nebraska: Omaha Chapter (60)
New Mexico: Albuquerque Chapter (41)
New York: New York Chapter (7), Rochester Chapter (53)
North Carolina: Charlotte Chapter (49), Winston-Salem Chapter (63), Asheville Chapter (74), Fayetteville Chapter (140), Wilmington Chapter (212), Sarah P. Duke Chapter (264)
Ohio: Cleveland Chapter (20), Dayton Chapter (33), North Canton Chapter (54), Columbus Chapter (84), Akron Chapter (114)
Oregon: Portland Chapter (47)
South Carolina: Columbia Chapter (182)
Tennessee: Nashville Chapter (5), Memphis Bamboo Chapter (44)
Virginia: Richmond
Washington: Seattle Chapter (19), Tacoma-Olympia Chapter (147), Spokane Chapter (230)
West Virginia: Parkersburg Chapter (128)
Wisconsin: Milwaukee Chapter (22), Madison Chapter (28)
in Canada
Ottawa: Ottawa Centennial Chapter (120)
Montreal: Montreal Chapter (155)
Toronto: Toronto Chapter (208)
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Schools
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Links
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The Ichiyo School is a modern school known for its introduction of contemporary styles such as crossing of lines and arrangements without a pin holder.
The Ikenobo School represents the most traditional style of Japanese flower arranging. The Ikenobo School is officially recognized as the oldest in Japan.
The Ohara School focuses on seasonal use of branch and flower material. It expresses the natural environment by emphasizing landscape arrangements.
The Sogetsu School’s distinguishing characteristic is found in its free style and abstract arrangements which use objects of sculptural intent and character.
Emphasis is placed on the designers individual artistic expression and creativity. 
The hallmark of Banmi Shofu Ryu is the use of driftwood, not as an artifice, but as a way of connecting with the spirit of driftwood in creating ikebana.
In addition, Banmi Shofu uses natural materials in ways to provoke movement, and symbols to achieve serenity and tranquility. |
More schools and links will be added as they become available.