Program Dates TBD, but events will take place between March 1-August 31.
US@250: Big Watch consists of 10 different screenings of Ken Burns’ new film, The American Revolution, directly followed by a community conversation about the film, the history of the American Revolution, and “remembering together,” moderated by trained facilitators. Additionally, each site hosting a screening will also plan and implement a separate community event based around these themes.
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future.
The By the People initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage as a complement to the 2026 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
