The Head of the Smithsonian Talks About America’s 250th, Why Experts Still Matter and What to Expect From the Institution in 2025
In an extensive interview, Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III spoke on the current political climate, the process of returning human remains from the Institution’s collections, the awe-inspiring scope of Smithsonian science and much more
How Indigenous Communities Preserve and Practice Heritage at the 2024 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The annual festival returns to the National Mall to celebrate Indigenous traditions that span continents and generations
The 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Explores the Many Ways Americans Express Their Spirituality
Tibetan Buddhist monks, Yiddish musicians and many more creatives will share their cultural practices with visitors to the National Mall
The Deep Cultural Significance of the Art of Felt
A river of fabric? Janice Arnold’s installations, inspired by the people of Central Asia, go to great lengths to evoke wonder
The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2023
From an ultramarathon capital in the Rockies to a laid-back village in the Florida Keys, these vibrant towns are calling your name
Why Women’s Music Embraces the Voices of Past Generations
New show examining the deep connections women make with musical tradition kicks off with a concert featuring folk star Alice Gerrard
After Long Absence, the Folklife Festival Returns to the National Mall
The much-loved summer event, featuring the United Arab Emirates and Earth Optimism programs, opens with a concert hosted by Yo-Yo Ma
A New Surge of Earth Optimism Takes Center Stage at This Year’s Folklife Festival
The challenges are many, but evidence shows that positivity emboldens global conservation efforts
A Museum Show Takes Visitors on a Hunt for the Birds of Prey Populating Centuries of Artworks
From an ancient Egyptian plaque to a Ming dynasty scroll, explore the central role that falcons and hawks play across cultures and millennia
In Times of Conflict, How Can We Support the People Who Keep Culture Alive?
A Smithsonian research fellow weighs in on the ways culture proves both vital and resilient
You Can Now Explore All 48,000 Panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt Online
The commemorative quilt weighs 54 tons and spans 1.2 million square feet
Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival Moves into Your Living Room
This year, experience the familiar smells, sights and sounds, while streaming the events online
How to Make the Ancient Iraqi Cookie that Signals the End of Ramadan
Made with rosewater, nigella seed and stuffed with dates or nuts, the bite-size ‘kleicha’ evokes layers of meaning and memory
Hitting the High Notes: A Smithsonian Year of Music
The Social Power of Music Will Take Center Stage at the 53rd Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The D.C. tradition will hit the National Mall for two action-packed days this weekend. Here’s what to know about this year’s lineup
Armenia’s “Tree of Life” Tradition Took Root Thousands of Years Ago, and Has Only Grown Since
The tree adorned in this year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival will continue to blossom overseas
The Age-Old Tradition of Armenian Carpet Making Refuses to Be Swept Under the Rug
A new generation is emerging to craft the ancient rugs
How a Fallback to Historic Traditions Might Save Catalonia’s Red Shrimp Fishery
The Boquera brothers, two fishermen from the Costa Brava, are part an innovative management plan that combines science with maritime skills and knowledge
For Hundreds of Years, Papier-Mâché Has Lent a Surreal Face to Catalan Culture
Street performers disguised as Giants and Big Heads blend reverence with ribaldry at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The Point of Armenia’s Splashy Holiday Is Getting Wet
The ancient tradition of Vardavar attracts tourists to Armenia, but bring a change of clothes
This Musician’s Songs Give Powerful Voice to a Language in Crisis
Singer and linguistic activist Alidé Sans hails from an isolated Catalan valley where a rare dialect is spoken
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