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Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage

A man on a stage plays a guitar.

At the Global Concert of Colors, Detroit and Its Unifying Voice Take a Bow

The city of Detroit, Michigan, is known as the birthplace of techno music, the hometown of Motown Records, and a haven of resilience. But every July, it earns one more claim to fame: the stage and heartbeat of the Concert of Colors, a collaborator in "Of The People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals!"

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.

A woman in a yellow dress and long braids skateboarding on a half-pipe

On International Day of Indigenous Women, Meet Native Women Skaters Making Space in the Sport

This is how Imilla Skate celebrates skateboarding’s Indigenous past and present.

Timelapse photo of a bright pink night sky with the trails of stars creating concentric white circles. Tops of trees are lit up yellow at the bottom of the photo.

Finding Hope in Sidewalk Astronomy, From a Neighborhood Near You to a Galaxy Far, Far Away

During the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, sidewalk astronomers brought a sense of hope into Washington, D.C.

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

These jewelry artists came all the way from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to Washington, D.C., to share the traditions and innovations of their silversmithing practice at the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Backshot of two men work together to pin blueprints of a building design to a corkboard wall.

In Charleston, American College of the Building Arts Educates the Next Generation of Craftspeople

Synthesizing liberal arts education with hands-on experience in architectural trades, ACBA strives to encourage the preservation, enrichment, and understanding of global architectural heritage.

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

The 2024 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Guide for Kids and Families

Dive into sports, crafts, and more!

American Sign Language alphabet

Hearing the Voices of Deaf Culture at the 1981 Folklife Festival

The landmark event introduced many hearing visitors to the stories, poems, sign play, jokes and traditions of the deaf community

Zapotec weaver Porfirio Gutiérrez at work in his studio. (Photo courtesy of the artist)

How We Can Travel the World and Share Culture through Craft

The Folklife Festival Marketplace offers authentic craftwork created by artisans representing communities from recent Festival programs: Armenia, Peru, Mexico, and Brazil, along with other countries around the globe

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