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) sub-
mitted 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 commemo-
rating 50 years of cultural exploration, exchange, and en-
gagement 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 engag-
ing, accessible, and culturally appropriate way; to show 
the connections between traditional and emerging prac-
tices, skills, and knowledge through research, perform-
ance, demonstration, conversation, and documentation; 
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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 col-
laborate with the American Folklife Center of the Library 
of Congress, Folk & Traditional Arts Program of the Na-
tional Endowment for the Arts, the National Park Serv-
ice, 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 simi-
lar 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 tradi-
tional arts; 
Whereas the Smithsonian Folklife Festival continues to foster 
intercultural dialogue, cross-generational learning, and 
cultural equity; 
Whereas the Smithsonian Folklife Festival continues to cele-
brate 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 Tradi-
tional Arts and Culture Week’’ in honor of the 50th anni-
versary of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Now, there-
fore, be it 
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Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog-
nizes ‘‘Folk and Traditional Arts and Culture Week’’ in 
honor of the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian Folklife 
Festival, to— 
(1) recognize practitioners of folk and tradi-
tional culture, and the institutions and organizations 
that support them; 
(2) explore the creativity found within their own 
families and communities; and 
(3) congratulate the Smithsonian Folklife Fes-
tival for 50 years of outstanding efforts to champion 
creativity, cultural diversity and sustainability, cross- 
generational engagement, and intercultural commu-
nication through community-based research, public 
presentation, and archival documentation during the 
week. 
Æ 
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