IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 408 

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 26, 2017 

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas (for himself, Ms. MATSUI, and Mr. COLE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian 

Folklife Festival. 

Whereas the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, founded on July 

1, 1967, by the Smithsonian Institution, 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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•HRES 408 IH 

and to support the efforts of individuals and communities 

working to promote the resilience, integrity, vitality, and 

sustainability of their own cultural heritage; 

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

of Congress, Folk & 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 

nations; 

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 new nongovernmental organizations committed 

to the documentation and presentation of folk and traditional arts; 

Whereas the Smithsonian Folklife Festival continues to foster 

intercultural dialogue, cross-generational learning, and 

cultural equity; 

Whereas the Smithsonian Folklife Festival continues to celebrate 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 anniversary of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Now, therefore, be it 


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1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog2 nizes ‘‘Folk and Traditional Arts and Culture Week’’ in 

3 honor of the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian Folklife 

4 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 their own 

9 families and communities; 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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