Smithsonian Folklife Seeks Writers for “Of the People” Festivals

In 2026, the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a three-part initiative called Culture of, by, and for the People, inspired by six decades of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. 

The primary component is Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals, a series of co-curated programs and exchanges showcasing the nation’s cultural landscape, presented at more than thirty established and emerging festivals in several states and territories between March and November.

To promote and document these public events—and to serve our overall mission to cultivate curiosity, understanding, and belonging—the Center is partnering with the American Folklore Society in producing a series of articles in its online publications, Folklife Magazine and the Festival Blog.

We are seeking writers in the AFS community who can use their skills in ethnographic research, interviewing, and creative writing to help tell stories relating to the Of the People festivals, examining how communities remember, harmonize, move, and grow together through festive gatherings. Like the occasion of the 250th, these articles offer us a chance to look back in history while also imagining our future together.

See the list of festivals, and consider these prompts:

Festival Features

Is there a festival on the list in your community, or one you have connections to? How can we highlight its programming? We’re looking for artist profiles; spotlights on genres of music, styles of dance, or ritual ceremonies; foodways highlights on the cultural significance of a dish along with a recipe; or insights from organizers on how a festival came to be. What we don’t want is a press release. These stories dig deeper and focus on a specific aspect of the festival.

Big-Picture Essays

What themes do you see recurring through these festivals? What threads can help us tell a broader story about American identity and expression? These articles synthesize research and interviews from multiple festivals—maybe even ones not represented in our programming—along with your own knowledge of vernacular traditions or regional history. 

Articles should be in the range of 1,600 to 2,500 words. These are not academic publications, so the writing should be for a general audience. Writers are paid $500 for a completed article.

To pitch your story:

• Following one of the two prompts, write up no more than two paragraphs about your story idea. 
• Indicate who the potential interviewees may be and any personal or professional connections you have to the topic. 
• Indicate what type of multimedia components you will use. Photos are necessary for any story, but you may want to include video or audio as well.
• Email to managing editor Elisa Hough (HoughE@si.edu) by Sunday, August 16, 2026.

An editorial committee from the Center will review the submissions and make selections based on relevance to the programming and the mission. Once writers receive a green light, they will meet or correspond with the committee to set deadlines. Articles will be reviewed and proofread before publication.

We look forward to hearing your story ideas!