FPA is excited to once again participate in Detroit City FC’s annual Polish Heritage Night at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck!

Join us on Saturday, September 19, 2026, as Detroit City FC takes on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.

Saturday, September 19, 2026
Game time: 7:00 PM
Keyworth Stadium
3201 Roosevelt St., Hamtramck, MI 48212

Gates open at 5:30 PM, with a Polish performance beginning around 6:45 PM.

Even better, a portion of every ticket sale goes to support the Friends of Polish Art Scholarship Fund! Bring your family, invite a friend, enjoy the match, and support FPA at the same time.

Ticket Package: $43
Includes:
• Game ticket
• Souvenir engraved pint glass
• Donation to Friends of Polish Art

Purchase the ticket package

Ticket only:
Purchase a ticket only

Come out for a great night of soccer, Polish culture, and community while helping support FPA scholarships!

FPA is excited to kick off the fall season with our FREE Szopka Building Workshop on Saturday, September 19, 2026!

Led by FPA member and skilled szopka builder Chuck Pelshaw, this hands-on workshop is open to children, youth, adults, families, and organizations. All skill levels are welcome!

Saturday, September 19, 2026
10:30 AM to 1:30 PM
American Polish Cultural Center, Hall 3
2975 E Maple Rd., Troy, MI 48083

Materials and templates will be provided. You are also welcome to bring your own items such as paper towel rolls, gift boxes, wrapping paper, and other materials.

Please bring scissors, a pencil or pen, and a ruler.

RSVP by Thursday, September 17 to Brian Malski at (248) 217-5951 or bjmalski@gmail.com.

Come create your own Polish Christmas tradition and have fun with family and friends!

The Friends of Polish Art is pleased to announce the 2026 Suzanne Marie Margaret Sloat Youth Literary Competition, an opportunity for Michigan students to explore Polish American heritage and creativity through writing.

This year’s competition invites students to write an original short story based on the theme:

“My Day with a Famous Polish American Person”

Imagine spending a day with a famous Polish American. Who would you choose? What would you learn from them? Where would you go, and what adventures might you share?

Who Can Participate?

The competition is open to students in 4th through 12th grade who attend any Michigan school.

Students will compete in three grade-level categories:

• Level I: Grades 4–6
• Level II: Grades 7–9
• Level III: Grades 10–12

Entry Requirements

Students must submit an original, unpublished short story that:

• Is 500–1,000 words
• Is typed and double-spaced
• Is written in English or Polish
• Has not previously won an award in another competition
• Is limited to one entry per student
• Is written without the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Students should not put their names on their stories. Names should appear only on the completed entry form and permission slip.

Celebrate Polish American Heritage Through Writing

This competition gives young writers an opportunity to learn about the achievements and contributions of Polish Americans while using their imagination to bring history and culture to life.

We encourage students, parents, teachers, and Polish American organizations throughout Michigan to share this opportunity with young writers.

Start writing and let your imagination take you on a day with a famous Polish American!

Youth Literary Competition Entry Form

Call for Entries

All visual art media are welcome. Artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and other visual disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Submission deadline: August 17, 2026

• Submit your work here

Exhibition Details

Selected works will be exhibited at the Galeria on the Orchard Lake Schools campus:

Location:
3535 Commerce Rd
Orchard Lake, MI 48324

Key Dates

Opening Reception: September 12, 2026
Closing Reception: October 24, 2026

About the Exhibition

This annual competition highlights the richness and diversity of visual arts while fostering connections within the artistic community. The 30th edition marks a special anniversary, offering artists an opportunity to be part of a long-standing tradition of cultural expression and excellence.

Questions

For more information, please contact: Elijah Majeski, PICROL Galeria Manager emajeski@picrol.org

Join Friends of Polish Art for a docent-guided tour of the Highlights of the Modern Collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Enjoy a curated experience through one of the nation’s top art museums alongside fellow members and friends. The event is free and open to all.

Please arrive by 11:30 a.m. at the John R Group Entrance (east side). The tour begins promptly at 12:00 noon and lasts about one hour.

Kindly confirm your attendance using our contact form by Monday, May 4.

Please join us at the FPA Swieconka being held at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy on Sunday, April 12. At this year’s traditional Polish Easter dinner, we will acknowledge and celebrate 60 years of artistic performance by the Wawel Folk Ensemble in both song and dance.

See invitation/flyer for program details (Polish Easter dinner, award presentation, dance performance and basket raffle). Reservations can be made by returning the completed “reservation form” located in the bottom half of the invitation.

• Święconka Registration Form (PDF)

We invite artists and community members to take part in this special exhibition, celebrating creativity and Polish artistic heritage. The competition will be held at the Galeria in Orchard Lake, Michigan.

• Opening Reception: September 12, 2026
• Closing Reception: October 24, 2026
• Location: 3535 Commerce Road, Orchard Lake, MI
• Entry is free and all are welcome

Please help us spread the word and share this announcement with artists and friends in the community who may be interested in participating.

For questions, contact Elijah Majeski, PICROL Galeria Manager, at emajeski@picrol.org

We look forward to celebrating the arts together in 2026!

Friends of Polish Art is now accepting applications for the Donald Samull Polish Folk Dance Grants. For the fourth year in a row, Friends of Polish Art will award up to four grants in amounts up to $2,500 each to Michigan-based Polish folk dance groups.

The purpose of the grant program is to support local Polish folk dance groups with their regular activities. Special consideration will be given to groups traveling to Poland to participate in folk dance festivals.

The application process is very simple. The deadline to apply is April 24, 2026.

Dance groups, dance directors, instructors, and community members are encouraged to share this opportunity widely with local Polish folk dance organizations.

Application details and the downloadable application form

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 Cordially invites you, your family and friends to it’s annual Wigilia.

• Saturday, December 13, 2025
  American Polish Cultural Center
  2975 E. Maple Road, Troy, Michigan

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Cash bar 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. Sharing opłatek at 6 p.m.
Traditional Christmas Eve meal at 6:15 p.m., followed by singing Christmas carols, awards, prizes, “share the wealth” and basket fundraisers (cash only, no checks or cards accepted).

Wigilia Invitation (PDF)