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Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage

A person dances, turquoise and brown skirt flying and twisting around them, with a drummer and singer performing on the sides.

Through ‘By the People,’ the Smithsonian and Humanities Councils Unite to Explore 250 Years of the United States’ Cultural Life

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For Hawaiian Artist Roen Hufford, Making Kapa Bark Cloth Embodies an Exchange with Nature and a Way of Life

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

A Catalyst for Culture in the Tucson Mall

In a warmly lit room, a woman in a floral dress tells a story, both hands outstretched, for a small seated audience that watches her and smiles.

Top Five Folklife Stories of 2025

Close-up on a pair of hands removing multicolored dried corn kernels into a woven basket.

The Journey of Myaamia Native Corn to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival (A Photo Essay)

A collection of twelve custom-made, metallic signs is displayed against a dark background. The signs are arranged in three rows of four. The signs are a mix of gold and silver colors with various fonts and designs.

Indonesian Artists of SWEDA Build a Brand—with a Silver Lining

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The Dance of the Feather Is a Flight Between Tradition and Modernity

Two people ride on horseback along a dirt road lined by yellowing tall grass. In front of them are a dog and dozens of cattle.

The Community of Families in Western Craft Traditions of Idaho

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Smithsonian Folklife Festival Presents Youth and the Future of Culture, July 2–7

In a crystal dish, beside a plate of pancakes, butter formed in the shape of a lamb with a red ribbon around its neck, red flag sticking out from its back, and a black peppercorn for an eye.

Behold the Butter Lamb of God: A Polish Catholic Easter Tradition Beloved in Buffalo, New York

Hilly green farmland with sheep grazing in the foreground and a few farm houses in the distance. Low gray clouds descend on the hills.

'Hardwired for Folktales': An Evolution of Storytelling in Ireland

Three men, two holding acoustic guitars, pose in front of a festival tent.

A Life in Folklore: Frank Proschan’s Community Work and New Internship Endowment

Two people in grass skirts stand on the shore, facing the ocean under an overcast sky.

Shared Experiences Through the Ongoing Virtual Mother Tongue Film Festival

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'Dressing Like a Human' to Honor Uzbekistani Art and Identity

A young girl pulls strands on an oversized, multicolor basket.

The 2024 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Guide for Kids and Families

Two children and an adult sit on three swings in a dry landscape with trees in the background.

Filmmaker Billy Luther Explains How Frybread Face and Me Was a Labor of Love

In the foreground, a lineup of mannequins each with colorful embroidered garments. At the end of the line, out of focus, a woman dresses a mannequin.

A Global Tapestry of Craft: Championing Women Artisans of Central Asia in a New Lookbook

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How I Visit with Houma Relatives in the Smithsonian’s Archival Collections

From behind, a person walks through a street filled with gray rubble, toward run-down buildings with graffiti in Turkish on the walls.

How Living Heritage Heals the Invisible Fractures of the Soul in Eastern Türkiye

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Finding Balance Is a Global Experience at the 2024 Mother Tongue Film Festival

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