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Festival of American Folklife

William W. Warner, Assistant Secretary (Public Service)
Remarks made at the Board of Regents' meeting
27 September 1971

Mr. Warner began by commenting on general or non-museum Bicentennial plans. He explained that these focused mainly on the Festival of American Folklife with the hope that by 1976 the Festival might embrace representatives from all fifty states. This was not an unrealistic goal, he thought, since "feature state" pavilions have already presented the best in folk crafts and the performing arts from four states--Texas, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Ohio--in past Festivals. Individual performers or craftsmen from nearly all the states have been part of the Festival as well. These performers and all the field research carried out by the Division of Performing Arts in the course of the Festival preparations constituted a nucleus on which to build a truly national Festival by 1976.

Mr. Warner further explained that if the Institution could mount such a comprehensive Festival for 1976, it seemed logical to present it for six or seven months during the spring, summer, and fall rather than four or five days around the 4th of July as has been done to date. To do this, temporary buildings such as geodesic domes or air-supported structures would be necessary on the Mall. Mr. Warner said that the cooperation of the National Capitol Park Service would be solicited to this end.