What is needed to craft effective heritage policy for 21st century museums? Sita Reddy tries to answer this question by highlighting changes in museum practice related to global cultural policy imperatives of democracy, justice, equity, and voice. The Smithsonian Institution (SI) has responded to these shifts by creating a variety of cultural activities that respect communities of culture bearers and their traditions. One significant area of focus is music as heritage and the community-based management of this heritage.

The practices of Smithsonian Folkways embody the SI’s support of the aforementioned cultural policy imperatives. This organization seeks to safeguard music heritage for future generations and to promote it to the wider public. It also prioritizes restitution for source communities, including digital heritage repatriation and the development of access and use control policies that correspond with local traditions.

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