Humanities Montana will be supporting programming at the 2026 Montana Folk Festival (July 10-12) as part of the By the People initiative.
The festival’s programming centers on community interaction and the dynamic celebration of diverse Montanans throughout the state. Planned programming includes creating space for oral histories/storytelling, workshops, and panel discussions.
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.
