What is the Culture Series?
Join expert guest curators from every corner of the city as they create one-of-a-kind events exploring DC stories, traditions and cultures with the goal of sparking conversations. The Culture Series is a free roaming monthly gathering that takes place at social hubs around the city and investigates topics like little-known bicycle racing in alleyways, LGBTQIA+ oral histories, and the tales of the African American Washingtonians who helped build the Smithsonian’s more remarkable exhibits. Come experience the public humanities in person as we delve into our city’s past, question our present and imagine the future.
fall 2025 CULTURE SERIES LINEUP
September – 9-Man
HumanitiesDC & Ted Gong Present Culture Series: 9-Man, a conversation with key members of the Chinese American community reflecting on the street sport that continues to unite generations. For more than 90 years, 9-man volleyball has drawn teams from Chinatowns across the United States. Join us for a panel discussion exploring how the game’s strict rules, emphasis on community, and longstanding traditions have contributed to cultural preservation across generations. Together, we’ll revisit the rich history of 9-man volleyball in DC and highlight the resilience of Chinese American communities in maintaining their heritage despite adversity.
October – Snap City: The Art of Roller Skating
HumanitiesDC & Tasha Klusmann Present Culture Series: Snap City – The Art of Roller Skating. Join us for an unforgettable evening as native Washingtonian and roller skate historian Tasha Klusmann takes us inside the world of Style roller skating. Be among the first to see short takes of exclusive footage from Our Family Skate Association’s National African American Roller Skating Archive documentary, Snap City (currently in post-production), followed by a Q&A.
November – Documenting Culture: How to be a Humanist
HumanitiesDC Presents Culture Series: Documenting Culture – How to Be a Humanist, a thoughtful conversation featuring three public historians exploring what it means to be a humanist in the nation’s capital. Featuring Paul Grant, Creative Director of the East of the River documentary series; Shae Corey, host of the Holy Local podcast; and Kristy L., DJ, cultural organizer and creator of the zine Cultural Waves, this event takes you behind the scenes of their creative journeys.
D.C. explores the lives of individuals who bring human stories to the humanities. Our guest speakers will share when and how they embraced the humanities, what that work looks like in practice, and what it means to document, celebrate, and amplify DC stories and culture. From podcasting to documentaries to DJing, each speaker offers a unique perspective, inviting audiences to consider the bold question: What does it mean to be a humanist, and what is lost if we fail to preserve DC’s stories?
To learn more and register for these events visit our Events Calendar.
BECOME A GUEST CURATOR
Do you have an idea of how to bring untold DC stories to life? Have you conducted research on a humanities topic or been working on a project that you would love the opportunity to present to the public? The Culture Series is looking for guest curators to help us co-create our next gatherings. We are looking for topics with strong connections to a humanities discipline, that are thoughtful, engaging and incorporate unique forms of presentation. Chosen curators receive compensation for their participation. For more information, reach out to our Public Programs team at programs@humanitiesdc.org or complete the submission form below.
Proposal Submission Form:
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