Meet scientists, anthropologists, and other specialists to learn about conservation in action at the Smithsonian and in our communities.
From poetry to perfume, explore past and present traditions of the region as resources for connecting communities and envisioning a sustainable future.
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, established in 1967, honors contemporary living cultural traditions and celebrates those who practice and sustain them. Produced annually by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the Festival has featured participants from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.
Our free Festival takes place for two weeks every summer on the National Mall, overlapping the Fourth of July holiday. It is an educational, research-based presentation that features master artisans and other tradition bearers. We invite visitors to sing and dance along, try craft and game workshops, learn traditional recipes, ask questions, and take part in this unique cultural exchange.
Living at the crossroads between Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean, Omanis have developed a complex culture that draws on the country’s Arab roots as well as its long-standing contacts with India, East Africa, and the Middle East.
The region that stretches from the Great South Bay of Long Island to Core Sound in North Carolina is home to a living cultural heritage based on many generations’ worth of maritime skills and knowledge.
In a sense, crafts record the resonances between a craftsperson’s skill, the aesthetics of a particular tradition, use of the local environment, and negotiations with a changing market.