The American Folklife Center's new exhibition, "Alive in Many Hands: The American Folklife Center at 50," is set to open to the public on September 17 in the Thomas Jefferson Building’s Southwest Gallery at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Together, the exhibition and related programs highlight the vital role that AFC plays in preserving and celebrating cultural traditions. These events honor the Center’s remarkable past and aim to inspire future generations to explore, appreciate, and contribute to living cultural traditions. Please join us for the following events to celebrate the opening:
September 17, 2026
Panel Discussion – Celebrating 50 Years of the American Folklife Center (September 17, 10:30am – 12:00pm, LJ-119, Thomas Jefferson Building)
A community of dedicated people who built the American Folklife Center will gather to celebrate 50 years of preserving and presenting folklife at the Library of Congress. Many critical figures – former and current directors, staff and board members – will assemble to tell the story the Center. Come celebrate the Center with the people who built it as they look toward to the next 50 years of preserving and presenting folklife at the Library of Congress.
Live! At the Library: "Alive in Many Hands" Opening (September 17, 5:00pm – 8:00pm, Great Hall, Thomas Jefferson Building)
Celebrate the grand opening of "Alive in Many Hands: The American Folklife Center at 50!" This exhibition celebrates the American Folklife Center’s 50th anniversary with highlights from the Center’s collections. The exhibition will explore how the Center helps preserve and share living cultural traditions, practices, and expressions throughout the world, including music and dance, food traditions, crafts-making, storytelling, and more.
Alive in Many Voices: A Concert Celebrating 50 Years of the American Folklife Center (September 17, 7:00 – 8:00pm, Coolidge Auditorium, Thomas Jefferson Building)
American Folklife Center Board of Trustee members Natalie Merchant, Martha Gonzalez, and Lori Pourier will host an evening of performances by three groups of young musicians representing cultural communities from across the United States. Musical heritage represented by the special guests span traditional Oglala Lakhota (Sioux) songs from students at the Maȟpíya Lúta School, East L.A. Chicano music from Quetzal, and Appalachian old-time music from Bayla Davis.This event is free to the public, but registration is required.
September 19, 2026
Family Day, featuring the American Folklife Center (September 19, 10:30am – 3:30pm, Great Hall, Thomas Jefferson Building)
The American Folklife Center will also mark the opening of "Alive in Many Hands" with a Family Day that invites children, families, and visitors of all ages to engage with the Center’s collections and mission through interactive programming. Reflecting the exhibition’s themes of sharing and sustaining folklife, the event will feature collection-inspired crafts, an exhibition scavenger hunt, and special guests Los Herederos, who will demonstrate community documentation and participatory music-making with the Sonicycle, a bicycle outfitted for recording and sound. This event is free to the public, but registration is required.
Accessible seating for Library of Congress events is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.
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