Citified: Arts and Creativity East of the Anacostia River explores creativity, identity, and community in Far Southeast Washington, D.C.,

The 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival opened with poignant words and diverse musical performances. Watch how the three Festival programs were introduced by Kathleen A. Merrigan, deputy secretary of the U.S.

On May 20, 2012, a community of friends gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, to celebrate the life of Kenny Williams, a dear friend lost to the AIDS pandemic.

Dan Sheehy, director of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, talks about the special Latino music concert series featured at this year’s Festival.  

Campus and Community curator Betty Belanus and coordinator Cristina Díaz-Carrera introduce the ins and outs of the program.

Curator Portia James and artist Jay Coleman describe the 2012 Festival program Citified: Arts and Creativity East of the Anacostia River.

Staff of The NAMES Project introduce us to Creativity and Crisis: Unfolding The AIDS Memorial Quilt, a program of the 2012 Festival.

The 2012 Folklife Festival features a very eclectic series of evening concerts. Curators Jim Deutsch and Mark Puryear provide a preview of the following concerts

Here is an introduction to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival produced in 2002 for Spanish language speakers.

At the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, you will find many exemplary practitioners of diverse, authentic, living traditions—both old and new.