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Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage

A group of people crouch and stand in front of a wall mural depicting desert plants.

A Catalyst for Culture in the Tucson Mall

Over a dozen artists from the sister cities of Tucson, Arizona, and Almaty, Kazakhstan, assembled for a cultural exchange in July 2025.

A vibrant parade on the National Mall with participants in colorful costumes, carrying flags and banners, in front of the United States Capitol building. Text is overlaid on the image that reads: Culture Of, By, and For the People

Smithsonian Folklife Festival Goes National for the United States’ 250th Anniversary

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, the Smithsonian is taking its oldest and largest public event—the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival—on the road to communities across the country and three U.S. territories.

In the courtyard of a wooden home with tiled roof and carved doorways, strings of orange persimmons hang from a bamboo pole hung along an eave.

Our Director Reflects on “Culture of Everyday Life” and K-Culture after Visiting South Korea

What we call “folklife” in the United States—the traditions, activities, skills, beliefs, and tangible creations of a particular community—is known as the “culture of everyday life” in South Korea. But there are other differences in how we understand these concepts.

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