Markez playing guitar and singing

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, launched in 1967, is an international exhibition of living cultural heritage held annually in the summer in Washington, D.C. In 2016, the Festival explored how the Basque Country sustains its culture, including how this culture and its distinctive language are preserved in the Basque diaspora in the United States. The Jon Bilbao Basque Library and the Center for Basque Studies of the University of Nevada, Reno, were active partners of the Smithsonian for the Folklife Festival, providing advice, organizing events, and taking part in the On the Move Tent. This space explored how migration and immigration impact Basque culture and the everyday lives of Basque individuals.