Upcoming Event
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Thursday, December 17, 2020, 6–6:45 PM ETStory Circle – Empowering Youth and Building Equitable Futures, Part 2: Voices of the StudentsStreaming online
In the first installment of this Story Circle series about our Tech-Teach Design and Fabrication Skills program, we heard from the organizers and teachers who work with D.C. area teens. In this second episode, we turn the mic over to the young people who are current or former participants in the iCAN Technical Theatre, Tech-Teach, and Wise Young Builders programs.
Join us for a conversation with these students as they speak to their experiences as participants and the impact of cultural, arts, and professional building trades educational programs.
In the Story Circle
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Since 1967, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has celebrated the power of culture, creativity, and community on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Although this year’s plans were upended by the global pandemic, we remain committed to making space for sharing ideas, food, and music.
Through the summer and fall of 2020, we will continue with a series of online Story Circle conversations and performances, highlighting artisans and experts from the United Arab Emirates, Northeast Brazil, the Smithsonian Conservation Commons, and more. We’ll also add to the national conversation about racism, intersectional discrimination, and building an equitable, just society.
Featured Video
Current Research
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United Arab Emirates
From poetry to perfume, explore past and present traditions of the region as resources for connecting communities and envisioning a sustainable future.
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Earth Optimism
Meet scientists, anthropologists, and other specialists to learn about conservation in action at the Smithsonian and in our communities.
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D.C. Music
Dig into the social power of music in the District of Columbia and contribute to a map of the city’s soundtrack.
Festival Blog
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November 20, 2020The Royal Pocket Tour: Hearing Go-Go’s Ancestral Beat
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September 30, 2020Frevo: A Reflection on Dances of Resistance during Times of Protest
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September 25, 2020Salvadoran Recipes: Pupusas de Chicharrón and Curtido
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August 31, 2020Opening Up the Creative Process: The pARTicipate Poems
Our Purpose
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The purpose of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is to collaborate with cultural practitioners, communities, and heritage professionals to spark curiosity, catalyze intercultural exchange, and create participatory experiences that nurture human connection.
Through research, curation, live programs, and digital storytelling, the Festival communicates an unwavering commitment to representing diverse cultures as a positive force for cultural equity, inclusivity, and the common good.
