The Missouri State University Libraries, in collaboration with the Smithsonian and other partners, is seeking a select number of participants for the 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival program “The Ozarks: Faces and Facets of a Region.”

The festival, held June 28-July 9, will bring Ozarks-based musicians, artisans, cooks, performers and others to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to celebrate and share their culture.

Presented through two weeks of performances, workshops, demonstrations and other participatory experiences, the event will highlight diverse populations from across the Ozarks region, encompassing parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois.

Submit your application

Individuals or groups who are interested in participating in the 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival program “The Ozarks: Faces and Facets of a Region” should apply through the Cultural Expressions Survey and Interest Form. 

The information collected serves a twofold purpose:

• To determine a select number of individuals and groups who will contribute to festival demonstrations, performances and discussions.
• To survey the cultural resources available within the multi-state Ozarks region for research and archival purposes on behalf of the Missouri State Libraries, the Smithsonian and regional partners.

Submissions are due Nov. 15. Applicants should review additional information about the 2023 festival and its selection process before applying.

About the Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Founded in 1967, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival promotes folk and traditional practices and honors those who sustain them.

This two-week event provides a platform on the National Mall of the United States — America’s “front lawn” — for musicians, dancers, artisans, cooks, and others to share stories of culture, creativity and community with a broad public. As one of five congressionally mandated national celebrations, it has become an international model for research-based public programming.