All upcoming International Culture programs

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese woodblock print, credited with firmly establishing landscape as a distinctive genre within the art form. His captivating vistas of mountains, forests, and waters are some of the most enduring imagery to represent the Japanese archipelago. National Museum of Asian Art curator Kit Brooks examines Hiroshige’s training, departures from conventional woodblock print subjects, and unconventional aesthetics.

Winemakers in Chile are amid a new era of innovation, modernization, discovery, and rejuvenation—leading to some of the most exciting wines the country has ever known. Sommelier Erik Segelbaum and Amanda Barnes, author of The South American Wine Guide, reveal why Chilean wine has never been better. The immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.

One of the biggest food trends today is a traditional Japanese ingredient called koji, the mold-inoculated grains responsible for miso, soy sauce, sake, mirin, and a host of other ingredients. Although it has been a culinary mainstay in Asia for centuries, it's only recently that Western chefs have started catching on to its transformative powers as a seasoning and a curing agent. Takashi Sato, an eighth-generation member of the founding family of a tamari and miso brewery, shares how koji creates the flavors behind your favorite Japanese foods. After the presentation, savor the secret ingredient as you sample foods and beverages that have been flavored with koji.

In colloquial Lebanese Arabic, “ilili” means “tell me” —and it’s always an invitation. Take advantage of your invitation to visit The Wharf in Southwest Washington and break fresh pita at ilili DC in a three-course lunch designed exclusively for Smithsonian Associates. Chef and owner Philippe Massoud  and executive chef Satinder Vij are on hand to introduce the menu, which includes mezze, an entrée, and dessert.

From the vibrant paintings found in Stone Age caves to the abstract sculptures produced during the continent’s colonial period, the arts of Africa have been shaped by unique creative insight as well as by specific political, social, religious, and economic forces. In a four-part series, art historian Kevin Tervala explores these vibrant artistic expressions through an examination of the continent’s historical trajectory. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

Singapore’s culinary identity is defined by its hawker centers, large food markets ringed by stalls that serve everything from full meals to snacks and drinks. Singaporean chef Danny Ng Wei Jun takes over the kitchen of D.C.’s Michelin-starred Cranes for a four-course dinner developed specially for Smithsonian Associates that features a menu that reflects and honors the history of Singapore’s hawker culture.

From the vibrant paintings found in Stone Age caves to the abstract sculptures produced during the continent’s colonial period, the arts of Africa have been shaped by unique creative insight as well as by specific political, social, religious, and economic forces. In a four-part series, art historian Kevin Tervala explores these vibrant artistic expressions through an examination of the continent’s historical trajectory. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

Singapore’s culinary identity is defined by its hawker centers, large food markets ringed by stalls that serve everything from full meals to snacks and drinks. Singaporean chef Danny Ng Wei Jun takes over the kitchen of D.C.’s Michelin-starred Cranes for a four-course dinner developed specially for Smithsonian Associates that features a menu that reflects and honors the history of Singapore’s hawker culture.

From the vibrant paintings found in Stone Age caves to the abstract sculptures produced during the continent’s colonial period, the arts of Africa have been shaped by unique creative insight as well as by specific political, social, religious, and economic forces. In a four-part series, art historian Kevin Tervala explores these vibrant artistic expressions through an examination of the continent’s historical trajectory. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

From the vibrant paintings found in Stone Age caves to the abstract sculptures produced during the continent’s colonial period, the arts of Africa have been shaped by unique creative insight as well as by specific political, social, religious, and economic forces. In a four-part series, art historian Kevin Tervala explores these vibrant artistic expressions through an examination of the continent’s historical trajectory. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)