Georgia Humanities Announces “Porch Songs, Public Voices” as Part of National
“By the People” Initiative
Traveling Series Will Celebrate Music and Folklife Traditions in Three Georgia Communities for America’s 250th
ATLANTA – This year, Georgia Humanities will present “Porch Songs, Public Voices: Music, Folklife, and the Public Square,” a traveling festival that connects Georgia communities through music, movement, storytelling, and shared cultural experiences.
The initiative is Georgia’s contribution to “By the People: Conversations Beyond 250,” 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 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.
Drawing on the resonance of the front porch—a gathering place where neighbors share songs, stories, and traditions across generations—“Porch Songs, Public Voices” will create space for Georgians to explore their regional heritage while considering how everyday voices and actions shape their communities.
“Georgia has one of the richest cultural landscapes in the country,” said Georgia Humanities president Mary Wearn. “As we approach America’s 250th, we wanted to create a program that honors that living inheritance and the people who sustain it.”
Each stop on the “Porch Songs” tour will feature musical performances tied to the region’s distinct traditions, with room for community members to participate and share their own stories. The series is rooted in the understanding that folklife is also civic life, and that passing on local customs and traditions is itself a vital form of connection.
Programming begins in Hartwell, Georgia. The Hartwell Folk Life Festival: Porch Songs & Stories takes place Saturday, April 18, in downtown Hartwell, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.
The day includes three distinct programs: a storytelling session with members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee sharing traditional stories, music, dance, and food; “Mojo on Max: Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones,” a blues concert and storytelling experience led by Max Simpson tracing the origins and influence of the blues; and an evening Blues Jam featuring the High Cotton Music Hall House Band and Clarence “Big C” Cameron. More performances and stories will take place throughout the day at businesses across downtown.
The Hartwell festival is presented in partnership with Discover Hartwell, Hartwell Main Street, the Hartwell Downtown Development Authority, and the Smithsonian “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” exhibition. Georgia Humanities will announce additional host towns and partner organizations in the coming weeks.
For information about “By the People: Conversations Beyond 250,” visit the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage website or StateHumanities.org/bythepeople/. Image courtesy City of Hartwell.
About Georgia Humanities
Georgia Humanities connects people and communities to encourage understanding and inspire hope. Through grantmaking and public programs, we engage people of all ages and backgrounds to explore what shapes us as individuals and binds us together as Georgians. Funding for Georgia Humanities is provided by the Georgia General Assembly, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and various foundations, donors, and partners.
About the Federation of State Humanities Councils
Founded in 1977, the Federation of State Humanities Councils (Federation) is the membership organization of the 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils. The Federation supports, connects, and amplifies the work and voices of our members, demonstrating councils’ value for communities and their collective impact on civic health and cultural vibrancy. The Federation envisions a fully resourced, inclusive, and thriving humanities council network. Learn more about the Federation and its member councils at statehumanities.org.
About the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
The Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage promotes greater understanding and sustainability of cultural heritage across the United States and around the world through research, education, and community engagement. The center is a research and educational unit of the Smithsonian that produces the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the Cultural Vitality Program, the online Folklife Magazine, exhibitions, symposia, publications, and educational materials. It also maintains the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Learn more at festival.si.edu.
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