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 2024-2025
If you feel sick or have been exposed to COVID-19 before a class or other event, please stay at home and contact us to arrange a refund. If the FAFS must cancel an event, registrants will be notified, and refunds will be issued. Thank you for helping us to continue offering programs as safely as possible.
December 2024
January 2025
Beginning Wheel Throwing
Date Night with Clay
Introduction to Kantele
Introduction to Jouhikko
Birch Bark Sheath Making
Beginning Rag Weaving
February 2025
Rag Rug Weaving
Ongoing
Saturday, December 7, 2024
10am-12pm
Instructor: Lindsey Heiden
Skyline Commons Room 103
Class fee: $25
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Registration closes December 3 or when sold out
Questions? Call 906-370-3722 or email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org
Get creative and have some fun with clay while making your own ornaments. No experience necessary. Students will shape their ornaments with guidance and encouragement from ceramics instructor Lindsey Heiden and then select a glaze. After the class, the ornaments will be glazed and then fired in the kiln and you’ll be contacted when they’re ready to be picked up. This workshop welcomes students of all ages, but each participant under 18 must be accompanied by an adult who is also registered for the class.
Introduction to Kantele
Thursday, January 9, 2025
6-8pm
Location: Finnish American Heritage Center
Instructor: Kay Seppala
Class fee: $20 advanced registration required
REGISTRATION OPENS NOVEMBER 25
Registration closes January 7 or when sold out
If you can count to 5 you can play the 5-string kantele! Join Kay Seppala for an introduction to playing the kantele, a plucked string instrument (lap harp) that is the national instrument of Finland. In addition to learning the basics of playing, this workshop will introduce students to kantele lore. Instruments will be provided. Open to anyone ages 12 and up, no experience necessary. Children must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian.
Introduction to Jouhikko
Thursday, January 16, 2025
6-8pm
Location: Finnish American Heritage Center
Instructor: Clare Zuraw
Class fee: $20 advanced registration required
REGISTRATION OPENS NOVEMBER 25
Registration closes January 9 or when sold out
This workshop is an introduction to the jouhikko, a Finnish bowed lyre known for its droning horsehair strings. In addition to learning the basics of playing, participants will learn about some of the instrument’s history and the ways it is being revived in contemporary folk music. Instruments will be provided. Open to anyone ages 12 and up, no experience necessary. Children must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian.
Beginning Rag Weaving
3 sessions: Tuesdays January 14, 21, 28, 2025
5-8pm
Location: Finnish American Folk School Fiber Studio
Skyline Commons 105 @ 200 Michigan St. Hancock
Instructor: Phyllis Fredendall
Class fee: $100
REGISTRATION OPENS NOVEMBER 25
Registration closes January 7 or when sold out
This class is designed for total beginners interested in learning to weave. Students will learn to independently dress a table loom and prepare fabric to weave your own rag placemat or table runner. Yarn for the warp and all equipment will be provided. Students should bring garments or fabric yardage to be used as rag weft. No experience necessary. Open to students ages 18 and up. This class is a prerequisite for any beginner weavers interested in registering for the Rag Rug Weaving class beginning in February.
Birch Bark Sheath Making
Saturday, January 18, 2025
10am-1pm
Location: Finnish American Folk School Woodshop
Skyline Commons 102 @ 200 Michigan St. Hancock
Instructor: Alice Margerum
Class fee: $35 advanced registration required
REGISTRATION OPENS NOVEMBER 25
Registration closes January 11 or when sold out
Make a birch bark sheath to fit your knife. Do you have a puukko or a small woodcarving knife that needs a sheath? At this workshop you can learn to make a simple woven birch bark sheath to fit it. The word for sheath in Finnish is tuppi. Historically, there are at least three different ways that the Finnish made birch bark sheaths. The woven birch bark sheaths which will be made in this workshop are based on museum examples made during the 19th century in Southern Finland (Päijät-Häme and Uusimaa regions).
Each student will be supplied with enough birch bark to make one sheath for one knife. This workshop is especially suited to puukko, Sloyd knives, and small woodcarving knives. To make sure the sheaths fit, students should bring their sheath-less knives with them. Due to the size of the birch bark available, the blade portion of the knife should be no longer than 4 inches in length. If you have a longer knife, or different sort of tool for which you would like to make a sheath, please contact us, so that we can discuss it in advance.
No experience necessary. Open to students ages 18 and up.
Next meetings: Mondays October 21, November 18, December 16
5:15-6:15pm EDT
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
Skyline Commons (formerly Jutila Center)
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.
The Finnish American Folk School is a proud member of the Folk Education Association of America.