The Polish Arts and Culture Foundation

 was established in San Francisco, California in 1966, the year of Poland’s Millennium.

Wanda Tomczykowska had come to the United States almost twenty years before and had been very active in Polonia organizations in the Boston area before moving to the City by the Bay. Her nostalgic and patriotic sense of being Polish and meeting like-minded people, paved the way for, and passionately drove  this organization. Curiosity and a thirst for knowledge among Americans gave us a ready audience and Polish expats became steady supporters. In the decade before, Poland had struggled with its challenging political situation and uncertain future. Many opportunities arose to inform, educate and entertain the diverse Bay Area community, and all of our presentations continue to be only in English on Polish subjects. We have maintained that tradition through lectures, concerts, receptions for visiting artists, observing Polish religious and national holidays, film festivals, radio broadcasts, art exhibits, school presentations, slide shows, music competitions, the annual Polish Christmas Tree at Davies Symphony Hall, folk costume fashion shows, and representing Poland in international festivals. The Foundation is a non-political organization and can therefore better represent the genre of Poland. We have however, offered practical assistance to refugees and emigres. Before there was a Consulate on the West Coast, thousands of people obtained commercial, travel and visa information from us.

            Until last year, The Foundation has also been the only Polonia organization in California maintaining regular offices. (We are now in the process of relocating since our needs have changed and our library and art collections have grown thanks to several generous donations recently.) Booklets have been published pertaining to Polish contributions to the success of America,  as well as easy-to-read information brochures on Polish history. Our monthly publication FORUM has been the major vehicle, for most of these years, of communication for our Members and those interested in all things Polish. The advance of the electronic age has given us the opportunity to be accessed around the globe at the touch of a button. Our webpage www.polishculturesf.org allows us to frequently update pertinent information, present ideas and share dialogues which we feel are of interest to the masses. Because of this, FORUM now is published as a Quarterly with bi-monthly Calendars mailed out to Members, reminding them of scheduled events. Membership is affordable and our numbers are growing again.

In 2002, after 36 years, Wanda Tomczykowska was forced to retire due to poor health. Now living in Poland and feeling better than expected, she  plans to write her memoirs and to enjoy the burgeoning future of her homeland. Joining the European Union on May 1^st ensured Poland’s destiny as a significant partner in Europe. (According to maps and historical evidence, the concept of a European Union was presented to the other countries by Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in 1464, and was promptly rejected…..!) In such a fast-paced universe, the Foundation feels it must honor the Past by reiterating it to the next generation, while simultaneously presenting the culture of a modern-day Poland and  advocating Polish presence in today’s world. We can see it in the names of filmmakers, singers, scientists, educators, and literary giants all over the world. In San Francisco we are proud of Lech Walesa Street and Joseph Conrad Square.

The Foundation’s new President is Wanda’s daughter Caria, who has been involved with the Foundation since its inception. No one is better prepared for this job, as she watched and encouraged  the evolution of this reputable organization and coordinated many of the events, most memorably, the annual Gala Grande Polonaise Balls at The Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. ACPC’s 1990 Convention was held at the same location. In 2003, Caria spear-headed the Splendor of Poland Cultural Events Committee which was formed of delegates from 14 local organizations and clubs, for the 10-week exhibit at the Legion of Honor Museum, “Leonardo daVinci and The Splendor of Poland”. Working closely with The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and thanks to our mutual efforts, over 208,000 people visited the exhibit and learned about the richness of Polish history, the arts and sciences. The 75 art treasures came from 11 Polish Museums and gave us an opportunity to share our rich heritage on an unprecedented scale. Each painting had survived centuries of political upheaval, theft, fire and looting. Beautifully restored, each one came with a history of its own. SOPCEC presented 30 supporting events to create a brilliant Polish Spring. One of the most memorable was the Third of May Observance at St. Mary’s Cathedral. On the Plaza three groups of dancers (100 in all) presented a palette of color, music and song to an appreciative public. More than 150 Veterans, Scouts and  Polish School students took part in the Procession into the church where a dozen Polish priests from all over California concelebrated High Mass. For more information and to see some of the photos, please view the  outstanding website www.splendorofpoland.org which was visited by over 400,00 people in six months.

The Foundation, as so many others do, relies on the generous contributions of its Members, Supporters and Patrons. In these challenging economic times, it is becoming more difficult to secure Corporate Sponsors who are better able to fund the ongoing Programs of worthwhile organizations, enabling us to do our work. We can only hope that interest will not wane and that heritage will remain important. Our responsibility to the future is to remember the richness of the past. The artists, the heroes, the brave and the strong. 2004 marks the 60^th Anniversary of The Warsaw Uprising. In those sixty days, over 250,000 people sacrificed their lives at the merciless hands of the Nazis trying to save their beloved capital. Reduced to rubble, the proud people of Poland scraped together their meager sums in the following decades to help rebuild a “city that was to be no more.” Every cobblestone, brick and window has been lovingly replaced to defy that command from Berlin. The golden spire atop the Royal Castle glistens in the dawn again. The numerous plaques on the houses of Warsaw pay tribute to those who were executed there. The monument nearby always has flowers strewn at its base……and candlelight casts a glow with the setting sun. Strolling down Mazowiecka Street we sometimes forget we walk above the sewers of Warsaw, which both saved and destroyed the lives of so many people. We enter the magical Old Town not for its quaintness, but its holiness. Today, people once more gather in the pubs and cafes to giggle and sing and have fun, the fire and smoke and ash a distant memory. Only the tap of a cane belonging to a survivor echoes on the narrow streets, the millions of bullet holes repaired now, and  the silver hair defines that valiant generation. It is time to listen to their stories and to honor them. CNN did a wonderful job of it in their “Forgotten Heroes” documentary in June. Make sure you see it and share it. Norman Davies’ “Rising ‘44” is also brilliantly written.  

The world needs to know that there is more to us than meets the eye and ear.

        1000 years have left their mark, now it is time for us to leave ours.