Welcome to Seattle Center
Polish Festival Seattle will take place on Saturday, July 8: 12pm-7pm at the Armory Food & Event Hall and Mural Amphitheatre. The festival is part of the Seattle Center Festál series. It is free and open to the public.
Seattle Center Festál is a year-round series of 24 free cultural festivals, produced in partnership with community organizations. In 2022, Festál celebrated 25 years of stories and traditions, ushering in a new era of hybrid programming. Learn more about Festál and subscribe to the newsletter for updates.
The festival features authentic Polish food, live music and dance performances, hands-on children’s crafts, exhibits, food demos, local merchants, and a beer garden and vodka tasting. This year, they invite everyone to come and play as they feature Polish games from the past and present! They are especially excited to welcome the Indie Games Poland Foundation which will be hosting a gaming area where everyone can try out family-friendly Polish video games!
Armory Food & Event Hall (ALL-DAY)
Armory Stage
| TIME | PERFORMANCE |
| 12:10pm-12:30pm | Opening Ceremony |
| 12:30pm-1:00pm |
Chopin Concert by Laure Struber French-born pianist Laure Struber has been playing the piano since the age of 3 years old. She came to the United States as a Fulbright Scholar in 2010 to study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She moved to Seattle in 2014, and was the lead Teaching Assistant for the University of Washington School of Music Secondary Piano Program for three years. Most recently, she earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from UW. Her thesis focused on a modern examination of the works of Marie Jaëll, a 19th Century scientist-musician who spent decades studying neurology, hand physiology, and how these studies interacted with musical and artistic development. Since the age of 15, Dr. Laure Struber has performed widely throughout Europe and in the United States as a soloist and chamber musician, and performed for prestigious ensembles such as the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Inverted Space Ensemble, the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra and String Orchestra, and the Harry Partch Ensemble. She has received numerous awards, including a France-Fulbright Alumni Distinction, a Marina Grin Award, and a Soroptimist Prize. She also won the UW Concerto Competition in 2015, performing the Chopin e minor Concerto. Dr. Laure Struber is also very involved as a music educator, and has taught students of all skill levels for more than a decade in France and in the United States. Determined to bring music to everyone, she created workshops for children with learning difficulties and disadvantaged social backgrounds. She currently teaches a studio of 20 students in the Seattle area. Dr. Laure Struber is delighted to perform Chopin at the Polish Festival for the third year in a row, as Chopin’s music perfectly captures the soul of Poland. |
| 1:00pm-1:25pm |
Chopin songs performed by Olivia i Laure Struber See above for more information about Laure Struber. Olivia Glod is a 16-year-old classical soprano from Chicago. Born in the US to Polish parents, she grew up surrounded by Polish culture, speaking the language and participating in many Polish traditions. From a young age, Olivia cultivated her interest in the arts, studying piano, attending dance lessons, and performing with a Polish folk song and dance ensemble. Olivia truly discovered her passion for singing in 2019, when she joined the Spirito! Singers, an elite Chicago area treble choir. With Spirito!, Olivia has performed on many stages, including Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, and New York’s Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Olivia studies voice with Lisa Griffith. This summer she will attend the Colorado Vocal Institute where she will continue to work on her vocal skills. Olivia is very excited for the opportunity to perform at the Polish Festival Seattle. She will perform a selection of songs by Fryderyk Chopin as well as a selection of folk songs by Tadeusz Sygietyński. For her Chopin performance, Olivia will be accompanied by Laure Struber. |
| 1:30pm-1:40pm | Polonez Dance Group Polonez San Diego was established in 1989 by founder & director Ewa Chrzanowska. Polonez is dedicated to promoting and preserving Polish heritage in San Diego and beyond through traditional Polish Folk Dancing. The group’s choreographer is Natalie Barnas, who oversees the artistic program. Polonez has seen tremendous growth in recent years, having more active dancers than ever before, more performances per year, and some truly unforgettable opportunities.Polonez is honored to represent Polish Folklore but also the Polonia of San Diego, a community they take proud in. Polonez invites you to visit their website for consistent updates relating to the group and Polish heritage. After almost 35 years, Polonez has been seen performing across Southern California, Connecticut, Nevada, Arizona, and on the Emmy nominated television show “Shameless”. |
| 1:45pm-2:45pm |
Polonia Polish Folk Song & Dance Ensemble Polonia Polish Folk Song & Dance Ensemble of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America was established in 1984 in Chicago, under the direction of late choreographer and pedagogue, Cecylia Rożnowska and her daughter, Anna Krysinski. Polonia Ensemble is divided into five age-based groups, Krasnoludki (Little Elves), Mała Polonia (Little Polonia), Średnia Polonia (Middle Polonia), Młoda Polonia (Young Polonia) and the representative group, Polonia. The Ensemble is composed of over 100 members ages 3 to 35. For over 30 years, Polonia has been preserving and promoting Polish culture in the USA and abroad, traveling to Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean. In 1998, Polonia Ensemble had the honor of performing for the late St.Pope John Paul II in his private residency at the Castle Gandolfo in Italy. Średnia Polonia and Młoda Polonia are honored to represent our ensemble in Seattle. Currently, Polonia Ensemble’s artistic team consists of Director Anna Krysinski, Music Director Mieczysław Dzis, Artistic Director Jaclyn Krysinski and instructors Nicole Romek, Andrzej Krasnicki. |
| 2:50pm-3:20pm | Vivat Musica! The Polish choir “Vivat Musica!” was established in March of 2004 at the Polish Cultural Center in Seattle. Since then, they have performed in more than 150 concerts across the United States, Canada and Poland. They have been performing at Polish Festival Seattle since 2012! This year, they will present a medley of traditional Polish songs. Typically, their repertoire includes patriotic and folk songs, sacral church compositions, classical choir arrangements and Christmas concerts. Justin Birchell is Vivat Musica music director, Maria Grabowska serves as music consultant/ piano accompanist, and Mira Pawluskiewicz serves as the choir manager. Currently, they have 20 members and are always looking for new members to join their group. “Vivat Musica!” invites everyone who likes to sing to join their group at the Polish Cultural Center in Seattle every Wednesday at 7:30 (September to the first week of July). |
| 3:30pm-3:50pm |
See above for information about the group. |
| 4:10pm-5:10pm | Parno Drom PARNO DROM is a group formed by Bob Kozak, a talented accordionist and vocalist. The group performs Eastern European Romani (Gypsy) style music and their repertoire includes music from Russia; Poland; Hungary; and beyond. They sing in the original language of each song including the Romany language of the Gypsies. As musicians they have performed internationally: Japan, England, Russia, Poland, Germany, and USA, to name a few. PARNO DROM provides wonderful entertainment for any occasion from casual events, festivals and weddings to formal business functions. |
| 5:10pm-5:30pm | Polka Dance Contest |
| 5:30pm-5:40pm |
See above for information about the group. |
| 5:45pm-6:00pm | Disco Polo Dance Party |
| 6:00pm-7:00pm | Timberman Video Tournament Finals |
Armory Balcony (WEST)
| TIME | ACTIVITY |
| 12:00pm-6:00pm | Video Game Area & Exhibit From traditional to contemporary, Polish Festival Seattle is pleased to showcase a variety of Polish games. This year, we are trying something brand new – a video game showcase! Partnering with the Indie Games Poland Foundation, the festival will feature 18 video games for you to try out for yourself! Plus, there will even be a Timberman video game tournament to participate in! This is fun for all ages and all skill levels, so bring the whole family! Indie Games Poland Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides access to free industry education, supports video game development studios in gaining expertise, offer industry-specific legal advice, assists studios in promotion and access to international markets. The foundation’s mission is also to create public awareness of the role of video games as a modern medium and a vital part of contemporary culture. |
Armory Balcony (EAST): ALL-DAY
Armory Loft Lobby
The exhibit “Polish School of Poster. New Generations” showcasing the art of poster from the University of Silesia is organized by Dr. Agata Stronciwilk, It presents 70 modern posters (created since 2000) designed by artists from different generations. It encompasses artworks created by professors, PhD candidates, and students from the Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Silesia in Katowice.
The title “Polish School of Poster Art. New Generations” suggests both continuity and change – artists recognize the impact of the history of Polish poster, drawing inspiration from this heritage; however, they also actively detach from tradition by exploring contemporary visuality and creating their own distinctive languages. Displayed posters were inspired by an array of cultural texts – cinema, music, art, and literature. A significant body of work presented at the exhibition is related to a renowned poster competition organized annually by the Institute of Fine Arts – “Jazz in the Ruins.
Posters of the following artists are represented at the exhibition: Iwona Cichy, Józef Hołard, Grzegorz Izdebski, Tomasz Jędrzejko, Justyna Jędrysik, Tomasz Kipka, Łukasz Kliś, Sebastian Kubica, Stefan Lechwar, Marek Maciejczyk, Aleksander Orłowski, Wojciech Osuchowski, Kaja Renkas, Martyna Sobolewska, Monika Sroga, Justyna Stefańczyk and Tomasz Tobolewski.
Each of the artists on display presents their unique style – with a vast array of techniques – using photography, digital media, and traditional artistic mediums (painting, drawing, collage) to create metaphorical images that are not mere illustrations but a creative re-reading of the particular cultural text. The posters encompass various aesthetics – inspired by op-art, surrealism or XIX-century prints. This aesthetic diversity reflects the individualistic approach to teaching at the Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Silesia in Katowice – rather than searching for principles that would define the new generations of the “Polish School of Poster,” the emphasis is put on the idiosyncrasy of distinctive form, which has to be established by each artist.
The Solidarność exhibit showcases Andrzej Mróz’s private collection during his time in political prison, fighting for Poland’s freedom from Communism.
Hear stories and see archival materials about communism regime fighters who confronted totalitarian system more than 40 years ago.
This year Solidarność exhibit will be presented by Andrzej Mróz’s daughter Katarzyna Mróz in honor of Andrzej’s memory and his profound contributions to the Solidarność movement and the Polish community.
This exhibit is dedicated to the many Polish men and women who, during the Second World War, did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for the Allied victory and the freedom of their homeland. The photographs presented in the exhibit show the tragic beginning of World War II and the revenge of the Polish forces over English skies. There are many images of Polish fighters whose contribution to the Royal Air Force led to winning the Battle of Britain and the final defeat of Nazi Germany.
We remember some of them who lived here, in Washington State: Alexander Witold Herbst, Roma Wal, Roman Wal and Boleslaw Gladych were a few who lived among us.
Krzysztof Poraj-Kuczewski prepared this exhibit with the help of Alexander W. Herbst and Tomasz Seibert. “A Question of Honor: The Kosciuszko Squadron: Forgotten Heroes of World War II”, a book written by Lynne Olson and Stanley Cloud, was an inspiration for this exhibition.”
Armory Loft #3 (FILM AREA)
| TIME | FILM |
| 1:00pm-2:30pm |
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING: Iconic Video Game Magazines Special thanks to Piotr Mańkowski The film tells the story of a unique moment in Polish history, how Western culture and American “soft power” influenced the changes that occurred in Poland after the fall of communism For young Poles in the 1980s, video games symbolized a better, colorful, wealthy, and democratic world that they aspired to join. In the 1990s, after the fall of communism and the Iron Curtain, and the consequent lifting of sanctions on the supply of modern computers to Poland, the country underwent rapid changes, in culture and computerization. The events resulting from the fascination with the capabilities of modern computers and the development of video games, which in the West were spreading over several decades, took place in Poland over just a few years. The film focuses on the history of print magazines dedicated to video games, which were a direct result of these events. An entire generation grew up on these magazines. Although that era has passed and none of these magazines exist anymore, they had an extraordinary and lasting impact on today’s Poland. Today, there are over 500 game development studios operating in Poland. It is one of the largest industries in Europe and the world. At the heads of these companies are people who were shaped in their childhood by these magazines and those times. The introduction to the film and the discussion after the screening will be led by Piotr Mańkowski. He is a journalist, historian, academic lecturer, and author of many books dedicated to the history of the video game industry. In the early 90s, he was a prominent journalist of the most important video game magazines in Poland. |
|
3:00pm-5:00pm |
The White Wolf: The Story of The Witcher in Video Games Special thanks to Piotr Mańkowski The Witcher 3 is still one of the most popular video games in the world, even though it's been 8 years since its release! The video game series has popularized Andrzej Sapkowski's books worldwide, on which the game was based. The growing popularity also led to the creation of a series on the Netflix platform. The film focuses on the beginnings of this story. It is a tale about a group of developers who worked on the first part of The Witcher game. It's the story of a company that decided to create the best RPG video game in the world. They planned to spend around 200 thousand dollars, and achieve their goal within a year, despite not having the appropriate knowledge or experience. (Polish with English subtitles.) The introduction to the film and the discussion after the screening will be led by Piotr Mańkowski. He is a journalist, historian, academic lecturer, and author of many books dedicated to the history of the video game industry. In the early 90s, he was a prominent journalist of the most important video game magazines in Poland. |
| 5:30pm-6:00pm | The Wooden Soul of Malopolska Special thanks to Krzysztof Poraj- Kuczewski The story of the Małopolska region of Southern Poland, a mountainous region famous for its wooden architecture. |
Mural Amphitheatre (ALL-DAY)
Imported Polish beer including Zywiec, Okocim and more, along with a selection of Pacific Northwest wines
Mural Stage
| TIME | PERFORMANCE |
| 12:10pm-12:20pm | Introduction by MC |
| 12:30pm-12:40pm | Polonez Dance Group |
| 1:00pm-2:00pm | Parno Drom |
| 2:10pm-2:30pm | Polka Dance Contest |
| 2:30pm-2:50pm | Polonez Dance Group |
| 3:00pm-3:30pm | Olivia Folk Songs She will perform a selection of folk songs by Tadeusz Sygietyński. |
| 3:30pm-4:30pm | Polonia Polish Folk Song & Dance Ensemble |
| 4:30pm-5:00pm | Vivat Musica! Biesiada |
| 5:00pm-5:10pm | Polonez Dance Group |
| 5:40pm-7:00pm | Zabavva Band was formed in Portland, Oregon in 2020 with the specific goal to support and entertain the Polish Community in the Northwest. Ania (lead vocals), who grew up in Poland, and Mike (guitar), along with some of the community’s young, talented musicians play the most popular, memorable, and lively Polish music from the 20th and 21st Centuries. |
