III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 19 

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 27, 2017 

Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself, Mr. PERDUE, and Mr. LEAHY) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Rules and Administration 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian 

Folklife Festival. 

Whereas the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, founded by the 

Smithsonian Institution on July 1, 1967, is commemorating 50 years of cultural exploration, exchange, and engagement on the National Mall of the United States this 

year; 

Whereas the purposes of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival 

are to collaborate with individuals and communities 

throughout the United States and around the world to 

present diverse, community-based traditions in an engaging, accessible, and culturally appropriate way, to show 

the connections between traditional and emerging practices, skills, and knowledge through research, performance, demonstration, conversation, and documentation, 


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•SCON 19 IS 

and to support the efforts of individuals and communities 

working to promote the resilience, integrity, vitality, and 

sustainability of the cultural heritage of those individuals 

and communities; 

Whereas the Smithsonian Folklife Festival continues to collaborate with the American Folklife Center of the Library 

of Congress, the Folk and Traditional Arts Program of 

the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Park 

Service, scholarly societies, and State and local arts agencies to deepen and advance public curiosity and appreciation of rich folk and traditional arts and practices as vital 

and integral to the social fabric of families, communities, 

and other countries; 

Whereas the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has inspired similar cultural exhibitions and festivals across the United 

States and around the world; 

Whereas the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has generated 

educational curricula, scholarly publications, documentary 

films, and nongovernmental organizations committed to 

the documentation and presentation of folk and traditional arts; 

Whereas the Smithsonian Folklife Festival fosters intercultural dialogue, cross-generational learning, and cultural 

equity; 

Whereas the Smithsonian Folklife Festival celebrates the diversity of artistic expression and the dignity, delight, and 

innovation found in the creative process; and 

Whereas the week of June 26, 2017, through June 30, 2017, 

is an appropriate week to designate as ‘‘Folk and Traditional Arts and Culture Week’’ in honor of the 50th anniVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:42 Jun 28, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SC19.IS SC19

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versary of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress recognizes ‘‘Folk and Tradi3 tional Arts and Culture Week’’ in honor of the 50th anni4 versary of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, to— 

5 (1) recognize practitioners of folk and tradi6 tional culture, and the institutions and organizations 

7 that support them; 

8 (2) explore the creativity found within the fami9 lies and communities of these practitioners; and 

10 (3) congratulate the Smithsonian Folklife Fes11 tival for 50 years of outstanding efforts to champion 

12 creativity, cultural diversity and sustainability, cross13 generational engagement, and intercultural commu14 nication through community-based research, public 

15 presentation, and archival documentation during the 

16 week. 

Æ 


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