Richard Kurin

Richard Kurin is the Under Secretary for History, Art, and Culture at the Smithsonian. He is responsible for most of the Smithsonian’s national museums as well as a variety of cultural and educational programs. Richard received a Ph.D. in anthropology with a specialization in Asian ethnology from the University of Chicago. For two decades he served as the Director of the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage overseeing the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. The Center’s productions have won Grammy, Academy, Emmy, and Webby awards. He also produced many of the Smithsonian’s major public programs on the National Mall, including the Festival of India, a program on Tibetan culture with the Dalai Lama, and another on the Silk Road with Yo-Yo Ma and 500 other artists from 28 countries. Richard will be with the group for the entire trip.

Upcoming Expeditions

No scheduled expeditions.