WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian is turning attention to America's living cultural traditions with a new series of Folklife and Cultural Heritage programs scheduled around the start of September.

The Smithsonian's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage is highlighting live performances, conversations and family activities, giving audiences an opportunity to experience cultural traditions beyond conventional museum exhibitions.

The programming reflects a broader effort to preserve and share the stories of communities whose traditions have helped shape American identity.

Live music and public cultural events can provide a direct connection between audiences and traditions that are often passed from one generation to another.

The Smithsonian's approach also reflects the growing importance of intangible cultural heritage in American cultural institutions, including music, storytelling, crafts, food traditions and community celebrations.

As museums prepare for the busy fall cultural calendar, programs such as these are giving visitors more opportunities to engage with American heritage through performance and participation rather than simply viewing historical objects.

For audiences heading into the fall season, the Smithsonian's programming offers a reminder that American culture is not only preserved in galleries and archives — it is also kept alive through communities, performers and shared traditions.