Arts & Culture

After a two-year hiatus, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival returns to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with programs designed to spark curiosity, understanding and delight. Visitors to the 2022 Smithsonian Folklife Festival can explore the cultural traditions of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Smithsonian’s Earth Optimism program through two weeks of workshops, demonstrations, performances, family activities and discussion sessions highlighting the importance of culture and community in creating a sustainable future. 

With Juneteenth now recognized as a federal holiday, members of the Project 21 black leadership network urge Americans of all ethnic backgrounds to learn more about the historic foundations and constructive goals of this longstanding tradition that was thrust into the public consciousness last year amidst racial and political turmoil.