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Beyond the Mall

  • Since 1967, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has celebrated the power of culture, creativity, and community on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Although this year’s plans were upended by the global pandemic, we remain committed to making space for sharing ideas, food, and music.

    Through the summer and fall of 2020, we will continue Beyond the Mall as a weekly series of online conversations and performances. They will highlight artisans and experts from the United Arab Emirates, Northeast Brazil, the Smithsonian Conservation Commons, and more. We’ll also add to the national conversation about racism, intersectional discrimination, and building an equitable, just society.

Featured Video

  • An invitation to the Festival in 2021 and beyond

Current Research

  • Northeast Brazil
    Ilê Aiyê

    Celebrate the creative spirit of Brazil’s northeast and explore how its communities shape and respond to the environments surrounding them.

  • United Arab Emirates
    Young falconer Osha readies her falcon, Yas

    From poetry to perfume, explore past and present traditions of the region as resources for connecting communities and envisioning a sustainable future.

  • Earth Optimism
    Smithsonian research scientist Mary Hagedorn takes a census of a Pacific coral reef community

    Meet scientists, anthropologists, and other specialists to learn about conservation in action at the Smithsonian and in our communities.

Our Purpose

  • Photo by Kerri Redding, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives

    The purpose of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is 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.

Support the Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, sustainability projects, educational outreach, and more.
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