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 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.
March 2025
April 2025
May 2025
Ongoing
Fridays – January 10 | February 7 | March 7 | April 11 | May 9
6-8pm
Instructor: Lindsey Heiden
Skyline Commons Room 103
$40 per couple for one date night
FEBRUARY 7 – SOLD OUT
MARCH 7 – SOLD OUT
APRIL 11 – SOLD OUT
MAY 9 – SOLD OUT
Questions? Email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org or call 906-370-3722
For those who want to go out on a Friday night and have some fun this night is for you. A twist on what a date night can be. 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.
11 sessions: February 17th, 19th, 24th, 26th, March 3rd, 6th, 10th, 12th, 17th, 19th, 24th
6-8pm
Instructor: Lindsey Heiden
Location: Finnish American Folk School Ceramics Studio
Skyline Commons 102 @ 200 Michigan St. Hancock
Class fee: $240
Registration is now closed.
This class is for anyone who is interested in learning how to throw pottery on a wheel or for folks who already know how to and want to continue on their pottery journey. The basics of wheel throwing will be covered along with more advanced forms and shapes for those who are already confident on the wheel. Students can work at their own speed while in a community studio setting. Finishing work such as handles, trimming and lids will also be covered, along with glazing. The last class is the kiln opening. Students will help unload the kiln and there will be a potluck to follow, while admiring and talking about everyone’s work. The class meets 11 times Mondays and Wednesday except for Thursday March 6th which will replace the March 5th class. This class is open to students ages 18 and up.
2 sessions: Tuesday, March 18 + Thursday March 20
6-9pm ET
Instructor: Tryg Solberg
Location: Finnish American Folk School Woodshop
Skyline Commons room 102
Class fee: Sliding scale $40-$70 / student
Materials fee: $20 payable as cash during workshop
SOLD OUT. Email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org to be added to the waiting list.
Last day to register March 14 or when sold out
Design and build your own canoe paddle in this brand new class at the Finnish American Folk School. In the first session students will learn about canoe paddle making, make design choices, and glue up their own paddle. In the second session, students will work on cutting and shaping the blade and grip. While shaping the straight shaft paddle, students will use various hand and power tools. Instructor will provide guidance for finishing sanding at home after the second class session. This class is open to students ages 18 and up. No previous woodworking experience is needed, but basic dexterity and hand strength will make the use of hand tools more enjoyable.
Tryg Solberg is a new instructor here at the Finnish American Folk School. He has been making canoe paddles for 6 years including dozens of straight and bent shaft paddles that have been put to the test on numerous canoe trips and day paddles. After growing up in a wood shop his entire life, he’s excited to share what he’s learned with his students.
2 sessions: Wednesdays March 12 + 19
6-8pm ET (check your local time zone!)
Instructor: Clare Zuraw
Location: ZOOM
Class fee: $50
Students provide their own yarn and needles (see details below)
Registration is now closed.
Last day to register March 5 or when sold out
Online video link provided to students after registration. Students should have a reliable internet connection and a device that can support Zoom. Questions? Email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org or call 906-370-3722
Knit a neckwarmer based on traditional sweater patterns from Vörå in western Finland. The online class will focus on techniques used to knit stranded colorwork in the round on circular needles: yarn tension, catching floats, color dominance, reading and adapting a pattern, finishing, and more. Anyone who is able to knit and purl is welcome to register. No experience with colorwork knitting is required. The class fee includes instruction and the neckwarmer pattern designed exclusively for this class.
Students must have an internet connection and device that supports Zoom. Students should have their own circular needles and yarn for the first session of class. The pattern sample was knit on US7 16” circumference circular needles with two contrasting colors of worsted weight yarn.
Vörå Inspired Neckwarmer knit by Courtney Quale at Moonspun Wool
We are partnering with independent yarn shop Moonspun Wool in Marquette, Michigan. They’ve put together some great yarn kits for use with this pattern. You are also welcome to use other yarns, but we know that some students prefer to have a yarn kit as an option. Visit them online or in person to purchase. Moonspun Wool – 219 W. Washington St., Marquette, MI 49855 – (906) 273-0037
5 Wednesdays: April 2-30, 2025
5:30-7pm
Instructor: Randy Karpinen
Location: Finnish American Heritage Center
Class fee: $50
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Last day to register March 31 or when sold out
This in-person Beginning Finnish Language course is designed for beginners and those who are returning to learning Finnish and seeking a refresher. The curriculum will focus on learning the basics of written and spoken Finnish by beginning with pronunciation, acquisition of vocabulary, and exploration of grammar, with the goal of empowering the learners with a solid base from which to further enhance their language skills.
For the class the instructor asks that students purchase Beginner’s Finnish with Online Audio by Agi Risko, which is available in person or online at North Wind Books in Hancock.
This class is open to students ages 18 and up. No prior experience in Finnish is required, only an attitude and desire to explore one’s aptitude for language learning. Bring a notebook or digital device to take notes. If you’ve already been using learning materials, please bring those with you in addition to the textbook listed above.
6 Wednesdays: April 2-May 7, 2025
1-4pm
Lead designer: Rick Loduha of R&B Design
Workshop fee on a sliding scale from $50 to $150 / student
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Last day to register March 31 or when sold out
Questions? Email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org
This is our second design studio offering. Design thinking, noetic skills and creative problem solving are all at the heart. This round the studio workshop invites you to join this six-week journey with a focus on Inventive Reuse design.
The first hour of most sessions will explore the design process, design thinking, right brain/left brain balance, kinetic hands-on learning and how to apply intuition and creative insight (optional if you have attended previous studios). The remaining time will be action. We’ll create a trial and error playground where your inventive reuse ideas can dance with reality. You may come away with an inventive reuse object, something you reclaimed from the waste stream and transformed by way of inventive reuse design.
There may be optional follow-up sessions for an additional fee. Design studios may be continually repeated.
- If you are excited about the idea of reclaiming cast-offs of consumer culture to create a new inventive reuse design but you’re not sure how to go about it, this Inventive Reuse Studio IS for you.
- If you are interested in integrating mind, body and spirit in a way that harmonizes with
mother Earth this reusable resource design studio IS for you.
- If you want hands-on reusable resource design experience this studio IS for you.
- This Design Studio might NOT be for you if you already know what you want to make
4 Saturdays: April 12-May 3, 2025
1-3pm
Instructor: Phil Morgan
Location: Finnish American Folk School Wood Shop
Skyline Commons room 102
Class fee: $75
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Last day to register April 7 or when sold out
Participants will learn to restore and then sharpen old chisels and planes. These tools are often rusty but high quality. We will look at how these tools were traditionally used and how to tune them for best performance. The school has planes and chisels to restore but please bring your own old or new tools if you have them. Students should also bring a pair of work gloves. Safety goggles are available for student use, but bring your own if you have them. This class is open to students ages 18 and up.
Photo of Emmi Kuittinen by Sini Suomi
Saturday + Sunday, April 5-6, 2025
11am-2pm EST (Please check your own local timezone.)
Instructor: Emmi Kuittinen
Class fee: $60
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Registration closes April 2 or when sold out.
Online video link provided to students after registration. Students should have a reliable internet connection and a device that can support Zoom. Questions? Email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org
In this online workshop you will get to know the lament tradition of Karelia and Ingria. Laments were sung in parting situations and in the most important rites of human life, like marriage and death. They were used to convey feelings of grief and yearning, and occasionally even those of gratitude. There were also laments for everyday life situations to relieve sorrow.
This two-day workshop will include a lecture on the lament tradition and the opportunity to learn to lament yourself with exercises. You will also write a small lament of your own that can be written in English. No experience with lamenting, singing, or Finnish or Karelian language is required. Please bring some paper and pen for notes and a cloth or a tissue to support your lamenting. Students should have access to an internet connection and a device that can support Zoom.
Emmi Kuittinen is a folk musician, singer and songwriter, who specializes in the Karelian and Ingrian singing styles and also laments. Emmi’s main instrument is her voice and she also plays keyboard instruments, accordion, ukulele and the Finnish-Karelian instrument kantele. She performs both solo and with various ensembles. She also teaches and offers courses on lamenting and folk singing. Emmi is educated as a Master of Music and Music Educator, and has trained extensively as a Community Musician, concentrating primarily on making music in hospitals and care taking environments. She has instructed and worked with people from all ages ranging from small babies to senior citizens.
Saturday, April 5, 2025
10a-12p
Instructor: Lindsey Heiden
Class fee: $25
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Registration closes April 2 or when sold out
Students will learn how to make a whistle out of clay. Each handmade whistle will sound different depending on shape, size and the amount of holes added. This is a great way to spend two hours relaxing while making noise! Once the whistles are made folks will be able to pick out a glaze color. Lindsey will glaze and fire all of the work. An email will be sent out once worked is fired and ready for pick up.
Open to students ages 8 and up. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult guardian.
Wednesday, March 12-Sunday March 16
10 am – 5 pm
Instructor: Phyllis Fredendall
Location: Finnish American Folk School Fiber Studio
Skyline Commons 105 @ 200 Michigan St. Hancock
Class fee: $240
Materials fee: $50 payable by cash or check in class
SOLD OUT – to be added to the waiting list email clare.zuraw@finlandiafoundation.org
Registration closes March 5 or when sold out
Täkänä – known in English as Finn-pick double weave – is a traditional weaving method that allows the weaver to create a graphic reversible double cloth in two colors. This technique can be found in medieval churches and in museums in Finland and Sweden. It became popular in Finland in the 1960s but is rarely practiced today. Instructor Phyllis Fredendall studied the technique as the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi, Finland in 2023 with support from the American Scandinavian Foundation.
Weavers will work with wool in contrasting natural and black yarns in both warp and weft to learn the technique and create a small sample. Open to weavers ages 18 and up who can independently wind a warp and dress a floor loom.
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: The current Open Studio schedule is Tuesdays 9am-1pm, Fridays 5-9pm, Saturdays 12-4pm. This is subject to change based on studio monitor availability.
Open Studio access will begin Friday, February 7 when Lindsey Heiden will host the first studio orientation 5-6pm on February 7. As interest develops we will schedule additional orientation times.
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.
Memberships are available starting March 1, 2025. New members must participate in a studio orientation before beginning work.
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 meeting: Monday, February 24
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.