Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Cause Area
- Arts & Culture
- Children & Youth
- Community
- International
- Sports & Recreation
Location
PO Box 37012 MRC 520Washington, DC 20013 United StatesOrganization Information
Mission Statement
Since 1967, the purpose of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has been to collaborate with cultural practitioners, communities, and heritage professionals to spark curiosity, catalyze intercultural exchange, and create participatory experiences that nurture human connection. Through research, curation, live programs, and digital storytelling, the Festival communicates an unwavering commitment to representing diverse cultures as a positive force for cultural equity, inclusivity, and the common good.
Description
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an international exposition of living cultural heritage annually produced outdoors on the National Mall of the United States in Washington, D.C., by the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
The Festival takes place for two weeks every summer overlapping the Fourth of July holiday. It is an educational presentation that features community-based cultural exemplars. Free to the public, like other Smithsonian museums, each Festival typically draws hundreds of thousands of visitors.