The sights and sounds of Wales are set to take centre stage at one of the major festivals in the United States next year.
Wales will be the featured nation at the 2009 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which takes place annually on the National Mall in Washington, for 10 days at the end of June and the beginning of July.
The Festival celebrates the cultural traditions of communities from across the United States and from around the world, and an exciting programme featuring more than 100 specialist participants from Wales awaits visitors to next year’s festival
Speaking at the launch of Wales Smithsonian Cymru 2009 last night [13 November] in the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, where the festival programme was launched, First Minister Rhodri Morgan said:
“The main theme of Wales’ programme will be sustainability. As well as fitting in well with the newly elected President’s emphasis on the environment, global warming and ‘green collar’ jobs, our programme will present a dynamic view of Wales, its cultural and economic impact on the world, with themes ranging from the traditional to the contemporary and highlighting diversity and innovation, past, present and future, and the use of traditional methods to create new green solutions, products and processes. Festival presentations will include music and literary performances, storytelling, animation, genealogy searches, Welsh language lessons, craft skills, building restoration, cookery demonstrations, industrial heritage and new technologies, farming methods, outdoor pursuits and traditional and modern medicine.
“To be the featured nation is a great honour and a massive opportunity for Wales. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is a major event, attracting over one million visitors from across the USA and further afield. This means that this will be a great showcase for Wales where a great many visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about Wales and its contemporary cultures and traditions. Hopefully, this in turn will inspire them to visit Wales to see the country and its beautiful landscape for themselves, and buy products and services from us, which will give a boost to our economy and tourism industry.
“What better way could there be to see the deep-rooted and vibrant culture and creativity of Wales than this showcases for ten days right in the heart of the capital of the United States.”
In his response to the First Minister, Secretary G.Wayne Clough, of the Smithsonian Institution, who addressed the launch by video-message, said:
“We are delighted that Wales will be featured at the 43rd Folklife Festival in our nation’s capitol in 2009. Special thanks to the First Minister Rhodri Morgan and everyone in his administration for joining our partnership. As 12th Secretary of the Smithsonian and one with strong Clough family connections to Wales I am particularly excited. We have much to celebrate and much to learn from each other. Welsh Cultural life will be available at the Smithsonian for generations as a result of this experience.”
Wales’ presence at the festival will be extended through ancillary programmes that will begin in March 2009 and will be presented in collaboration with partner organisations in Washington DC. These activities and events will include a wide range of contemporary arts, a focus on sustainable living and climate change and trade and tourism initiatives.
More information is available on our Wales Smithsonian Cymru 2009 pages.