The Rhode Island Historical Society will host its second Goff Lecture of 2026, Culture of, by, and for the People: Rhode Island Festivals & Folklife, on Thursday, August 20th at 6pm. The panel will feature a discussion between representatives from Rhode Island organizations Providence Arts, Culture, and Tourism (ACT), Pawtucket Arts Festival, SoupyFest, Newport Festivals Foundation and more, and will be moderated by Halle Butvin, Director of Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
Guests will enjoy a light reception prior to the talk. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., with the talk starting at 6 p.m.
This talk is the second of two Goff Lectures that will be presented in collaboration with Smithsonian Affiliations in 2026. Both presentations will explore a different aspect of the RIHS’s year-long commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America's founding.
Halle Butvin is Director of Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, where she leads the Center's communications, media relations, digital storytelling, and strategic initiatives. She oversees national outreach and content production that connects audiences with the Center's work, amplifying the stories of communities, artists, and tradition bearers through public programming and multimedia platforms. Over the past two decades, Halle has developed and managed complex cultural heritage and cultural exchange initiatives across the United States and internationally, building cross-sector partnerships and leading projects that strengthen communities through arts, culture, and public engagement. She is passionate about the role festivals play in sustaining living traditions, fostering dialogue, and bringing people together.
The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.
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