Smithsonian Folklife Festival Seeks Volunteers

The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage needs capable and enthusiastic volunteers before, during and after the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which will be held on the National MallThursday, June 30, through Monday, July 4, and Thursday, July 7, through Monday, July 11.

“Colombia: The Nature of Culture” program will feature craft and food demonstrations, as well as musical and dance performances and narrative sessions. Volunteers supporting “The Peace Corps: Fifty Years of Promoting World Peace and Friendship” program will help musicians, craftspeople and cooks from countries served by the Peace Corps present some of the many different cultural traditions from their country. For the “Rhythm and Blues: Tell It Like It Is” program, volunteers will assist with musical performances, as well as conversations and workshops with the artists, songwriters, radio personalities and others who have worked behind the scenes to produce the music. Volunteers also are needed to support a wide variety of other areas, including the Marketplace (the Festival’s retail venue), information kiosks and the Festival’s recycling program.

Certified American Sign Language interpreters, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and volunteers who are fluent in one or more foreign language (including Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Tagalog, Tongan, Bambara, Gonja, Naro and Samburu) are especially needed.

More information on all the volunteer opportunities and an application are available at http://www.festival.si.edu/about/volunteers.aspx or by contacting volunteer coordinator Jennifer Harris at CFCH-Volunteer@si.edu or (202) 633-7477.

# # #

SI-226-2011