Finnish American Folk School
The Finnish American Folk School (FAFS) was founded in 2017 to promote Finnish folk arts and traditional skills and ensure that they thrive for generations to come. The Folk School is based in the Skyline Commons building and the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock, Michigan. We welcome workshop requests or proposals. Scholarships or assistantships are available. Please contact FAFS director Clare Zuraw with all questions, suggestions, or scholarship requests: clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org or 906-370-3722.
Upcoming Programs 2026
November
Ongoing
Friday , November 13, 2026
6-8pm ET
Instructor: Lindsey Heiden
Location: Folk School Ceramics Studio (Skyline Commons Room 103)
Class fee: $50 per couple
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Registration closes November 4 or when sold out
Questions? Contact clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org
A twist on what a date night can be – a relaxed evening with clay! Bring a date and work on a pottery wheel together to make a mug, cup or bowl. Your date can be anyone, a spouse, partner, friend, family. Folks will be able to pick out a glaze color and the work will be glazed and fired for them. Though you certainly can just come for the fun and not the finished piece. For the couples that think wheel throwing is not for them, hand building is an option. Date night clothes are not recommended. Everyone should wear clothes that they do not mind getting a little dirty. Though couples will be working with clay maybe for the first time, this night is about having fun and not necessarily learning or becoming proficient in working with clay. There will be some guidance from the instructor.
Saturday, November 14, 2026
11am-1pm
Location: Skyline Commons room 323 Chapel Auditorium (200 Michigan St. Hancock)
$25 for a bowl made by hand in the FAFS Ceramics studio + hot soup donated by Hancock businesses
No pre-sales, first come first served while supplies last on 11/14/26. If ceramic bowls run out, we’ll still offer soup for purchase in a disposable bowl until soup runs out as well.
Live music by Carrie Dlutkowski, sponsored by Northwoods Music Collaborative
Join us for our 2nd annual Soup Bowl Fundraiser to support Finnish American Folk School programming. Purchase a handmade bowl, enjoy a bowl of soup, live music and companionship, and bring your bowl home as a souvenir.
Bring non-perishable food items for donation to the Hancock St. Vincent De Paul food pantry, so we can help fill our neighbors’ bowls at the same time.
And while you’re here, bid on our silent auction with local and Finnish items that will make great holiday gifts and support our work at the same time. Every dollar raised at this event supports community education at the FAFS throughout the year here in Hancock.
A huge thank you to our sponsors:
Fifth & Elm
Finnsight
Griffin Family Cafe + Catering
Keweenaw Co-op
North Wind Books
Northwoods Music Collaborative
Suomi Restaurant
The Wood’n Spoon
Thursday, November 19, 2026
6-7pm Dance lessons taught by MTU Swing Club
7-9pm Live music by the Back Room Boys
Location: Finnish American Heritage Center
$8 adults at the door (children enter free)
Questions? Call 906-370-3722 or email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org
Experience the joy of dancing to live music with friends, family, and community folks. No experience is necessary. If you’ve never danced before or just need to warm up, join us at 6pm for dance lessons provided by members of the MTU Swing Club. Bring a partner or find a new friend. All ages welcome.
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
12:00pm EST / 19:00 Helsinki
Location: ZOOM – registration required, link provided upon registration
Click here to register
Cost: Free
We warmly welcome you to an interactive workshop focusing on Finnish place names in North America. Where do names such as Tapiola, Paavola or Toivola come from, what do they mean and what can they tell us about the past? Are there place names in your region that you believe have a Finnish origin? Let us know, and join us with your questions! Questions about place names in Finland are also more than welcome.
We encourage you to send your questions in advance by filling out this form. We may not be able to answer every question during the workshop, but questions submitted before November 18th will have a better chance of being addressed.
Janne Saarikivi, former professor of Finno-Ugric languages at the University of Helsinki, is a well-known researcher and a prolific author of popular and scientific works on a wide variety of topics, including place names and personal names. Other specialists from Finland will also participate and join the conversation.
The workshop is organized jointly by Finlandia Foundation’s Finnish American Folk School and Sukukansojen ystävät (Friends of the Finno-Ugric Peoples), a Finnish NGO that develops cultural relations between Finno-Ugric peoples and is actively involved in the Finno-Ugric Capitals of Culture program. We look forward to seeing you there!
Email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org to be added to the carving mailing list.
Location: Finnish American Folk School Wood Shop
Skyline Commons Room 102 @ 200 Michigan St. Hancock
Questions? Email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org
Wood carvers are invited to gather together to carve socially in our Folk School Wood Shop each month this fall. This is not a class and there will not be any formal instruction and no advanced registration is required. The goal is to bring carvers together to share ideas and inspiration. At this time there is no fee to participate. Carvers should bring their own tools and materials. Work benches with wedges will be available for use. Birch wood for carving is available this fall to participants with a donation to the school, while supplies last.
WHO: Potters who have taken at least one FAFS ceramics class and are interested in accessing the studio for independent work. Open to ages 18+.
Before attending, open studio participants must complete a studio orientation with studio manager Lindsey Heiden. After making work, open studio potters will glaze their work as part of a guided glazing session led by studio manager and scheduled as needed. This guided glazing is aimed at protecting kiln equipment and everyone’s work.
WHAT: Scheduled times when community members can use the studio outside of classes. Open Studio benefits:
- Access to shared community work space
- Access to studio tools and materials
WHEN: As of September 2026 the Open Studio schedule is Mondays 5-9pm, Tuesdays 11am-3pm, and Thursdays 5-9pm. This is subject to change based on studio monitor availability.
COST: $10 per 4 hour session plus $3/lb for clay. In addition to use of the studio, this cost includes the cost of glaze and firing. Payment and registration in advance is required for the session fee. Clay payments can be made as needed while working in the studio.
All potters working in the the FAFS Ceramics Studio must use the clay and glaze provided. Outside clay and glazes are not permitted. Firing arrangements will be coordinated with Lindsey Heiden, studio manager, who is the only person permitted to use the kilns. All members must sign a waiver and participant agreement before beginning work. All questions should be directed to Clare Zuraw clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org 906-370-3722.
Steps for Signing up for Open Studio:
- Email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org to express interest and find out when the next studio orientation will happen.
- Attend studio orientation.
- Complete paperwork (liability waiver, studio guidelines doc).
- Schedule and pay for studio time.
WHO: Experienced potters who can work independently. Open to ages 18+.
WHAT: A limited number of monthly memberships are available to experienced potters seeking regular access to the studio. Members benefits:
- Reserved semi-private studio space with table and shelving
- Access to studio tools and materials
- Discounted price on clay/glazes/firing
- Extended access hours to the studio
- Early registration access to upcoming clay classes
WHEN: Members can access the studio Monday through Saturday, 9am-9pm. New members must participate in a studio orientation before beginning work.
Memberships are currently at maximum capacity. Please inquire with clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org to be added to the waiting list.
COST: $100 per month plus $2/lb for clay. In addition to use of the studio, this cost includes the cost of glaze and firing. Monthly payment must be received before the 1st of the month.
All potters working in the the FAFS Ceramics Studio must use the clay and glaze provided. Outside clay and glazes are not permitted. Firing arrangements will be coordinated with Lindsey Heiden, studio manager, who is the only person permitted to use the kilns. All members must sign a waiver and participant agreement before beginning work. All questions should be directed to Clare Zuraw clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org 906-370-3722.
Steps for Signing up for Membership:
- Email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org to express interest. Members must be approved by the studio manager.
- Attend studio orientation.
- Complete paperwork (liability waiver, studio guidelines doc).
- Schedule and pay for monthly membership.
Next meetings: Summer meetings as needed. Contact us for information: copper.country.singalong@gmail.com
5:15-6:15pm ET
Finnish American Heritage Center
No cost to participate
RSVP required by email: copper.country.singalong@gmail.com
Oren Tikkanen and Alice Margerum have a vision for re-seeding old songs in the community, one singalong at a time. Join them to learn or re-learn songs and sing as a community. The group will begin by singing songs in Finnish (with English translations when available). Each meeting the group will focus on a new song, eventually building a shared repertoire we can sing together. The organizers will share song lyrics and audio with participants digitally before each gathering. No formal music or language training is necessary to participate. Please do not bring instruments for this gathering as we will be focused on learning words and melodies from recordings and each other. Initially this group is open to singers ages 13 and up. Questions? Email copper.country.singalong@gmail.com or call the FAFS at 906-370-3722
Tuesdays 12pm-1pm
Fiber Studio Room 105
Call 906-370-3722 or email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org for more information
Do you like to knit? Need feedback on your yarn choices? Want to learn new knitting tips and tricks socially from other knitters while on your lunch break? Join Finnish American Folk School director Clare Zuraw for a weekly knitting circle in our fiber studio. This is not a workshop! We’ll knit together, and Clare will be available for some light feedback during the hour, but there’s no lesson plan. Registration isn’t required – just show up with your knitting, a lunch, and maybe a friend. There’s no fee to participate, though if you find this to be an enriching experience donations the Folk School are always appreciated.
Activities supported in part by an award from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts
The Finnish American Folk School is a proud member of the Folk Education Association of America