Cultural Events

Cultural Events 2009

U.S. Air Forces in Europe Concert Band in Poland this October.

October 2009 sounded with marches, overtures, the best of American popular classics, jazz and famous music from the stage and screen thanks to the United States Air Forces in Europe Concert Band, which toured Poland October 19-25, 2009. The USAFE Band toured Poland in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of U.S.-Polish diplomatic relations. As America’s Musical Ambassadors, the USAFE Concert Band reinforced the cultural ties between our two countries through music and entertainment.(more) (more photos)

Helena Modrzejewska Exhibition Opens in Warsaw

At the 'Helena Modjeska' exhibit opening (more photos)

As a part of the year-long celebration of the 90th anniversary of Polish-American diplomatic relations, the U.S. Embassy is a proud sponsor of the Polish National Opera Theater Museum’s exhibit, “Helena Modjeska: For the Love of Art.” Helena Modrzejewska (known as Modjeska in the U.S.) was a heroine of the stage and of audiences across Europe and America.  Her life and accomplishments are shining examples of the centuries of cultural exchange between Poles and Americans. (more)

Warsaw meets Jefferson

On October 7 the Royal Castle in Warsaw provided historical mise-en-scene to a unique event combining an appearance of Robert Coles, Thomas Jefferson’s 5th descendent, with a concert of baroque music by Corelli and Handel, composers whom Jefferson loved. (more) (more photos)

Miles of Blue Michal Urbaniak’s concert dedicated to Miles Davies

Polish-American jazzman, the only Polish artist who cooperated with Miles Davies will play a special concert on October 25 at the Sala Kongresowa during this year’s Jazz Jamboree Festival http://www.jazz-jamboree.pl/, announced Cultural Attache.
The concert commemorates the figure of Miles and marks the 50. Anniversary of his legendary LP “Kind of Blue” which changed Urbaniak’s life for ever. American Embassy is proud to be a patron of this event. (more)

American Cool Jazz star Lee Konitz will make a special appearance with a young pianist, Dan Tepfer at the 36th International Jazz Piano Festival in Kalisz

This year’s Laureate of the National Endowment for the Arts prestigious title Jazz Master of Year (2009), Lee Konitz will perform with a rising star pianist Dan Tepfer  the International Jazz Piano Festival in Kalisz. Mr. Konitz is renowned for his fresh interpretation of jazz standards and one of driving forces of Cool jazz movement.  For several years these two musicians have been inspiring audiences in NYC and Paris. Ther joint CD was released last summer in a series “Duos with Lee.”
American Embassy is a proud sponsor of this special concert. (more)

American Design Expert Inaugurates Academic Year at Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts

Victor Margolin

American design guru, Victor Margolin, Professor Emeritus of Design History at Department of Art History of University of Illinois at Chicago, lectured on “The Future of Design" at the ceremonial opening of the academic year at Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts’ Design Department on October 5 at 12:00.  Likewise, he  also gave an additional lecture on social design at the Academy on Oct. 15.
On October 6 Professor Margolin will appear at Industrial Design Department of Krakow Academy of Fine Arts. He visited the National Museum, the Industrial Design Institute, and met Polish experts in Warsaw, Krakow and Lodz.

Americans appear (live and filmed) at the Rawa Blues Festival

Harmonica virtuoso Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers,Eric Sardinas,
and 2009 Acoustic Artist of the Year, Eden Brent, appeared at the 29th International Rawa Bles Festival in Katowice  on October 10-11, 2009 announced Cultural Attache Chuck Ashley. The Embassy is a proud partner of the Festival and the sponsor of  special screenings of rare documentaries featuring Freddie King, Chet Baker, Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson,J.B. Lenoir, Ella Fitzgerald and many others. (more)

Warsaw University Press and the Embassy are pleased to announce the publication of Black on White: Afro-Americans Who Moved America

Warsaw University Press and the Embassy are pleased to announce the publication of Czarno na Bialym: Afroamerykanie, którzy poruszyli Amerykę (Black on White: Afro-Americans Who Moved America), a collection of essays about eminent representatives of 20th century African-American culture and politics, including Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka, Malcolm X, Spike Lee, Bill Jones, Muddy Waters and others. Written and edited by prominent Polish experts of American Studies, the book was launched on October 13 at the Warsaw University Library in conjunction with a special appearance of Professor Vincent Parrillo of Paterson University in New Jersey, who is a leading scholar on diversity in America. (more)

MILK Free Screening in Warsaw on July 22

The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and the Campaign Against Homophobia are pleased to invite you to a free screening of the Oscar-winning film Milk on Wednesday, July 22 at 18:00 at the Center for Contemporary Art’s Kino.Lab (ul. Jazdów 2).  The film tells the story of Harvey Milk, who in 1972 became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. (more)

“American Jazz Icons” Film Series Begins July 22

A series of documentary films showing American ‘Jazz Icons’ in concert will accompany the Jam Session exhibition at Warsaw’s Hoover Square, announced Chuck Ashley, Cultural Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw. The film series begins July 22 at 20:30 with two concerts by Ella Fitzgerald, from Belgium in 1957 and Sweden in 1963. These documentaries are available to the Polish audience courtesy of Reeling in the Years Productions. (more)

The "American Dream" Exhibition in Kraków

The U.S. Consulate General in Kraków and the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw together with the National Museum and Jagiellonian University invite the public to see the "American Dream" exhibition open from July 2nd - October 4th, 2009 at the National Museum in Kraków.  On July 1, a large crowd joined Ambassador Victor Ashe, Consul General Anne Hall, and National Museum Director Zofia Gołubiew for the opening of the "American Dream" exhibition and a reception in honor of America's Independence Day. Please click here to see a photo gallery from the event. (more)

Workshops on Jose Limon Dance Technique

American Embassy supports cooperation between Warsaw Ballet School and American dance companies – after Batter Dance Company, Paul Taylor, Nai Ni Chen and Liss Fain Dance who visited Polish dance festivals and taught workshops to dance communities in the past,  two outstanding educators and practitioners visited Warsaw last week announced Cultural Attaché Chuck Ashley.

Ann Vachon, Director of the Limón Institute and Janet Pilla a soloist of Ann Vachon/Dance Conduit, a company dedicated to the preservation of the Jose Limon Style, came to Warsaw Ballet School to conduct a workshop on Jose Limon Dance Technique to dancers and teachers from all over Poland. The Embassy is a proud sponsor of their trip. The instructors and participants promised to meet again next year. For more info on instructors click here.

Consulate Celebrates Independence Day and "American Dream" Exhibit Opening

A large crowd joined Ambassador Victor Ashe, Consul General Anne Hall, and National Museum Director Zofia Gołubiew at the National Museum in Kraków on July 1 to celebrate America's Independence Day and participate in the opening of the new exhibition "American Dream" in honor of the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Ashe acknowledged the 90th Anniversary of Polish-U.S. diplomatic relations celebrated with a series of events throughout 2009. "It is in part thanks to the leadership of Poles like General Kosciuszko and General Pulaski that we were able to win our struggle for independence,” he said. “Ninety years ago, President Wilson tried to repay some of that debt by making the reestablishment of an independent Poland a central aim for the conclusion of World War I." Please click here to view a photo gallery from the event.

Guests attending the Independence Day Celebration were the first ones to visit the new "American Dream" exhibition at the National Museum and enjoy several other American-themed exhibitions. (more) 

Cantors Assembly to Perform and Irena Sendler Award to be Presented June 30

100 World Renowned Cantors will perform at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw on June 30. The concert titled “Jewish Musical Expressions of the Soul – Symbols of Brotherhood and the Human Spirit. Jewish Vocal Masterpieces” will be an expression of brotherhood and friendship to those who helped the Jewish people during the Holocaust.  This historic event will involve the largest assembly of cantors in Poland since 1939.  The Cantors Assembly will be accompanied by the Orchestra of the Polish National Opera and the Alla Polacca Children’s Choir. The concert is by invitation only; no tickets are on sale. During the event the Irena Sendler Award will be presented to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional efforts to make a world a better place through the promotion of peace, tolerance, and social justice and to develop innovative ways to promote an appreciation of diversity and differences in their communities. (more)

America’s Jazz Ambassadors Land at Hoover Square in Warsaw

The American Embassy will be presenting an exhibit of Jazz Legends from the old “Jazz Ambassadors” tours June 27- July 26 at Hoover Square’s “Centrum Artystsycznego Fabryka Trzciny” (Krakowskie Przedmieście 60A) in Warsaw.  From the mid-1950s through the 1970s, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and others served as cultural diplomats, transcending national boundaries, and making friends for our country.  Jam Session: America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World, an exceptional collection of photographs and documents drawn from archives around the U.S. chronicles the tours of American jazz legends as they traveled the globe on behalf of the U.S. State Department, announced Cultural Attaché Chuck Ashley. (more)

Tomasz Stańko Performs in Warsaw to Promote "Jam Session" and "American Dream" Exhibits

Tomasz Stanko, the world-famous trumpeter, composer and Polish jazz ambassador, gave a special performance at Warsaw’s Hoover Square on Sunday, June 28 to promote two very special American exhibitions, announced Cultural Attaché, Chuck Ashley.  Stańko has frequently performed and recorded with American jazzmen all over the world and in the US at such legendary venues like Birdland in New York City, Blues Alley in Washington, DC, and Hothouse in Chicago to mention just a few. The concert and the two exhibitions it promoted are offered in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of U.S.-Polish diplomatic relations.  Jam Session will highlight how American jazz musicians shared a vital American form of expression with the rest of the world during the tense period of the Cold War and American Dream will present visions of America as seen through Polish eyes during that same period. (more)

New Exhibit on the U.S. in Polish Historiography and Periodicals from 1764-1919

U.S. Ambassador Victor Ashe and Dr. Michał Strąk, Director of the Warsaw’s Main Public Library, proudly opened the exhibition U.S. in Polish Historiography and Periodicals from 1764-1919 on June 17, announced Cultural Attaché Chuck Ashley. Composed of materials from the library’s own collections (newspapers, memoirs, photographs and drawings) this exhibition illustrates how the U.S. was perceived by Poles in the years 1764-1919. Special attention is given to key topics such as: the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, Polish immigrants after the November uprising, Poles participation in the Civil War, American relief efforts for Poland during World War I and the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. (more)

American Jazzmen to Perform in Seven Polish Cities

The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw is proud to support American Jazzmen Chuck Loeb (guitar). Mitchel Forman (keyboards) and Melvin Lee Davis (bass) as they play in seven Polish cities and in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, during the month of May, announced Cultural Attaché, Chuck Ashley.  The musicians will be joined by Polish drummer Krzysztof Zawadzki, who has played with a multitude of renowned American musicians. In addition to their gigs in Żory, Knur, Poznań, Sosnowiec, Lublin, Warsaw, Łomża and Kyiv, the quartet will also conduct workshops  at Miejski Ośrodek Kultury in Żory on May 11 at 12:00 noon and at Dziekanka, ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 58/60 in Warsaw on May 18 at 17:00.   The workshop in Warsaw is organized by the Jazz Department of the Chopin Music School. (more)

American Documentary Showcase in Warsaw, April 24

American Documentary Showcase - a touring program of prestigious contemporary U.S. documentaries and select filmmakers will be presented in Poland late in April, announced Cultural Attaché, Chuck Ashley. The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs supports the Showcase through a grant to the University Film and Video Association’s (UFVA) partnership with the International Documentary Association (IDA).  Under this program, three outstanding American filmmakers Betsy Mc Lane, David O’Shields, and Chuck Workman will travel to Kraków, Lódź and Warsaw to meet film students and experts and show their films to general public in Kino Rejs in Warsaw. Please click on the [more] link to read the full program and speakers’ bios.

New Media/New Democracy Forum

See also: Democracy Video Challenge

March 19 & 20, 2009
Fabryka Trzciny
ul Otwocka 14, Warsaw

The 2008 U.S. Presidential Elections demonstrated the power of new media in the 21st century to impact politics and society.  New technologies have empowered ordinary citizens to organize and cooperate in new ways and on an unprecedented scale.  The way we look at democracy has changed.  And it has empowered youth as citizens in completely new ways.  This program will explore the many ways that new media have changed the way we think about our societies and allowed us to redefine the word “democracy.” 

Forum components:
• Panel discussions with Polish experts and U.S. guests, including Obama for America New Media Director Joe Rospars and new media expert and activist prof. David Silver. 
• Screenings of the Polish submissions to the YouTube/U.S. Department of State Democracy Video Challenge and announcement of the three Polish semi-finalists
• Exhibit of top photos from the U.S. Embassy’s “Demokracja To” photo challenge
• “Citizens on the Campaign Trail” exhibit of photographs by Konrad Wedekind
• Performance of the play “Democracy”
• Voice of America/Radio Free Europe audio exhibit
• And more…

Global Democracy Video Challenge: Who will represent Poland?

The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw is pleased to announce that Poles offered 20 excellent submissions for the YouTube/U.S. Department of State Video Challenge “Democracy Is…”!  You can view the videos from all over the world at www.youtube.com/democracychallenge.  Poland’s submissions can be found here

We ask for your help in deciding who will represent Poland in the global video challenge by voting here for your three favorite videos.  The winners will be announced on March 20 at the New Media – New Democracy Forum and advance in the competition. 

An independent jury chaired by award-winning director Michael Apted and renowned economist Hernando de Soto will select three semi-finalists from Europe.  The whole world will have a chance to vote online through YouTube for the grand-prize winners, who will have an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington DC, New York, and Hollywood, including meetings with filmmakers and activists and gala screenings of their productions. 

American Neo-Romantic composer Vittorio Giannini in Poland

Missa “Adeste Fideles” by American Neo-Romantic composer Vittorio Giannini, an unpublished and unperformed piece written in 1943, will have its world premiere in Poland announced Cultural Attaché, Chuck Ashley. Composed for men’s choir and organ, the mass will be performed by the Warsaw Cantores Minores choir and conducted by Joseph A. Herter on Wednesday, February 4 at St. John’s Cathedral (ul. Swietojańska in Warsaw’s Old Town) at 19:40.

The soloists are:
Jarosław Smolorz, tenor
Michał Udvardy, tenor
Henryk Grocholski, baritone
Jakub Wójcik, bas-baritone
Michael Oczko, organ
Admission is free and open to the general public. More