Friends of Polish Art is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Lillian & Chester Mitchell Scholarships and the Lillian & Chester Mitchell Fine Arts Scholarships. These scholarships continue a long standing tradition of supporting education, creativity, and cultural engagement within the Polish American community and beyond.

Thanks to the generosity of Lillian and Chester Mitchell, Friends of Polish Art will award a total of five scholarships this year, each in the amount of $2,000.

Lillian & Chester Mitchell Scholarships

Three scholarships are available for students pursuing academic studies in a wide range of disciplines. Eligible areas of study include, but are not limited to, law, medicine, architecture, engineering sciences, and the liberal arts. These scholarships are designed to support students who demonstrate academic commitment and a dedication to learning across diverse professional fields.

Lillian & Chester Mitchell Fine Arts Scholarships

Two additional scholarships are dedicated to students pursuing studies in the fine arts and related humanities. Eligible fields include painting, sculpture, music, drama, theatre, dance, and other forms of creative expression, as well as history, literature, religion, philosophy, and Polish Studies. These awards reflect Friends of Polish Art’s mission to foster artistic excellence and cultural preservation.

Important Dates and Eligibility

All applications and required documentation must be received by April 24, 2026. Scholarship recipients will be notified on or before May 17, 2026, and awards will be presented at the Friends of Polish Art General Membership Meeting scheduled for the week of May 22, 2026.

Please note that previous recipients of the Filipek and Mitchell Fine Arts Scholarships, as well as non Michigan residents, are not eligible to apply. Awards will be made payable directly to the individual recipients.

How to Apply

Complete application details and downloadable forms are available on the Friends of Polish Art website:

• Mitchell Scholarship
• Mitchell Fine Arts Scholarship

Friends of Polish Art has proudly served the Detroit area and Michigan’s Polish community since 1937. These scholarships are one of the many ways the organization continues its mission of promoting education, culture, and the arts.

Interested students are encouraged to apply early and review all requirements carefully.

Friends of Polish Art is announcing that applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Frank Filipek and the Lillian & Chester Mitchell Fine Arts Scholarships. The deadline to apply is April 25, 2025. Through the generosity of the late Frank Filipek of Battle Creek, Michigan, five scholarships are available for academic studies in areas including, but not limited to: law, medicine, architecture, engineering sciences and liberal arts. The amount of each scholarship is $2,000.

Additionally, two Lillian & Chester Mitchell Fine Arts Scholarships are available for students pursuing studies in painting, sculpture, music, drama, theatre, dance and other forms of creative expression as well as history, literature, religion, philosophy, and Polish Studies. The amount of these scholarships is also $2,000 each.

All applications and required documentation must be received no later than April 25, 2025. Previous recipients, as well as non-Michigan residents, are not eligible. Award-winning recipients will be notified on or before May 17, 2025. Awards will be made payable to the individual. All scholarships will be presented at the Friends of Polish Art General Membership Meeting scheduled the week of May 18, 2025 (tentative).

• 2025 Frank Filipek Scholarship Application (PDF)
• 2025 Fine Arts Scholarship Application (PDF)

Disclaimer: In the event, that submissions do not qualify or are unacceptable, the Friends of Polish Art Scholarship Committee reserves the right to not award a scholarship for the current calendar year.