The Collections of Ryszard Z. Janiak

The full title of this temporary exhibition in the Warsaw's Royal Castle is: "A passion for collecting. The Collections of Ryszard Z. Janiak". This contemporary art, history and culture buff has amassed 800 items and visitors are invited to ogle at everything from painting and handicrafts to Persian firearms and suits of Samurai armour. There are some real treasures here to be discovered if you're in Warsaw from late March onwards...

when - Until 24th June
where - The Royal Castle, Plac Zamkowy 4
more info - click here

"Still Life with Manet in the Background" Exhibit

"Still Life with Manet in the Background" is an exhibit of paintings by Ewa Kuzniak (b. 1980), a former student of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. She is the creator of a cycle of paintings in which she playfully cites the masters. Her simple, linear, graphic style gives a collage-like character to her paintings - a confrontation with a different world, a search for contrasts, which for the viewer become a source of wonder.

when - Until 12th May
where - Galeria Sztuki Katarzyny Napiorkowskiej, Pulawska 17
more info - click here

"Jewish Motifs" 4th International Film Festival

The Jewish Motifs Film Festival focuses on the Jewish nation, its tradition, identity and history, both past and present. It's important that a country with such a strong Jewish past and turbulent history as Poland be aware of Jewish culture in the present. The festival will show films from many post-soviet countries as well as films from Western Europe, Australia, China, New Zealand and Israel. Their aim is to propagate - through the medium of film - awareness of the centuries-old Jewish tradition.

when - 5th May until 10th May
where - Kino Muranow, ul. Gen. Andersa 1
more info - click here

"New Tradition" Folk Music Festival

The 10th Annual Festival of Folk Music of Polish Radio, called "New Tradition," will take place this May. From 1998, this radio festival has played several hundred folk bands, ranging from strictly traditional folk to Etno jazz to Etno rock. The idea behind "New Tradition" is to bring new energy and ideas to traditional music in innovative ways. Some famous performers include "The Cracow Klezmer Band" (winners of the Grand Prix of 2000) and "Swoją Drogą."

Be sure to check the festival's website for a full schedule!

when - 10th May until 13th May
where - Studio Koncertowe PR im. Witolda Lutosławskiego, ul. J.P. Woronicza 17
more info - click here

Juwenalia 2007

Oh, the most sacred of Polish holidays - if you're a student! Juwenalia comes around for one weekend at the beginning of May each year, and brings booze and barbecues for all under 30. When else can students roam the streets drunk at ten in the morning? Ok, let's rephrase that: when else can students legally roam the streets drunk from ten in the morning, spend the afternoon grilling in all the parks and academic quads in the city, listen to more rock bands outdoors than their ears can stand, and end the night with, you guessed it, more drinking at numerous parties. It truly is the perfect day...

when - 11th May until 13th May
where - Everywhere students are found
more info - click here

Akurat Concert

As part of this year's Juwenalia student festivities, Polish reggae-rock band Akurat will perform in Warsaw. The event will take place as sponsored by Warsaw University, though specific details concerning the concert will be announced closer to the event, so be sure to check back with us in May!

when - 11th May
where - To be announced
more info - click here

4th World Festival of Feature Long Documentary Films

4th World Festival of Feature Long Documentary Films, or Planete Doc Review 2007, will take place at Kinoteka inside the Palace of Culture and Science. Lovers of documentary films will have a fourth opportunity to view the most interesting full-length documentary films from the last two years, from all over the world. Be sure to view the complete schedule of films on the festival's website.

when - 11th May until 20th May
where - Kinoteka, pl. Defilad 1
more info - click here

Exhibit: Bill Viola

A solo exhibition by Bill Viola will be the feature for several months at the Zacheta National Art Gallery. For the first time in Poland, the work of this outstanding artist and pioneer of video art will be shown. Viola played a major role in the recognition of video as a new form of artistic expression and in the development of this medium. Viola's experimental films and video-installations are famous for engaging viewers on every level - intellectual, emotional, and perceptual. His images conjure places and emotions that are at once foreign yet completely recognizable, inspired by the artist's travel, poetry and philosophy, religions, and other artistic mediums. But really, there's nothing that can be written that will truly convey the feeling of experiencing one of Viola's exhibitions - you just have to see for yourself.

when - 12th May until 1st July
where - Zacheta National Art Gallery, Pl. Malachowskiego 3
more info - click here

A Sunday of 20th Century Art

Warsaw's National Museum is proud to present a day of 20th Century Art (perhaps in preparation for its planned modern art museum?). Starting at noon, the collection of art from 1945 to 1955 will be unveiled at the Gallery of 20th Century Art. There will also be meetings with important figures of the art world, as well as a workshop for children titles "Picasson on a Plate," film screenings, and a contest for all!

when - 13th May
where - Muzeum Narodowe, Al. Jerozolimskie 3
more info - click here

"Full Palate" Exhibit - Marek Niedojadlo

The "Full Palate" exhibit presents the painting of Marek Niedojadlo (b. 1954), a former student of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. His works can be found in the Okregowe Museum in Tarnow, the City Gallery BWA in Krakow, and BWA in Rzeszow. His current exhibit will show off his talents in a burst of colourful expressionism and rich landscapes heavily influenced by the natural world.

when - 17th May until 31st May 2007
where - Galeria Sztuki Katarzyny Napiorkowskiej, Pulawska 17
more info - click here

Night at the Museums

No, not the cheesy Ben Stiller movie - this night at the museum(s) involves an experience that will actually stimulate your mind! Over 80 Warsaw museums and art galleries, including the National Museum, the Warsaw Rising Museum, the Palace at Wilanow, and many others will open their doors for visitors during a Night of Museums, taking place between 7 pm and 1 am. Best of all, entrance to all museums will be free of charge, and so will the special buses running from Plac Bankowy.

when - 19th May
where - Various Museums in Warsaw
more info - click here

Kazuhisa Uchihashi in Concert

An amazing multi-instrumentalist from Japan will be touring through several cities in Poland this May. Kazuhisa Uchihashi, guitarist, saxophonist, composer, and arranger is one of the most famous improvisational guitar players in the world. Along with such figures as Otomo Yoshihide, Keiji Haino, Hoppy Kamiyama and Tatsuya Yoshida, he represents the modern face of the Japanese musical avant-garde - and no wonder - he's been involved in improvisational music since 1983! During his performance Uchihashi will experiment with many different sounds and effects to heighten the expression created by the electric guitar. This is certainly a show that shouldn't be missed, but if you can't catch him in Warsaw, he'll be continuing his tour to Gdansk, Lodz, Cracow, and Wroclaw.

when - 21st May
where - Aurora, ul. Dobra 33/35
more info - click here

"Full Palate" Exhibit - Jan Opalinski

Jan Opalinski is mainly a painter and graphic designer. In his works, the main subject is woman - the woman's psyche drawn on canvas as a metaphor and allusion for a more universal subject. Though his focus may seem one-sided - let's face it, the guy's a bit girl-crazy - through the female form Opalinski touches on deeper subjects in his art.

when - 22md May until 5th June
where - Galeria Sztuki Katarzyny Napiorkowskiej, Rynek Starego Miasta 19/21
more info - click here

Opera: "The Barber of Seville"

Warsaw's Grand Theatre presents Rossini's "The Barber of Seville," a comic opera in two acts in the original Italian. The joint production features a collaboration with the Teatro del Maggio Musicale in Florence, with an orchestra conducted by American Will Crutchfield. This special showing marks the start of the National Opera's commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the death of Karol Kurpiński, who was the National Opera's first music director and opened the Grand Theatre in 1833 with a production of Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" and his own work "Zabawa tancerska" ("Dancing Fun"). The day of the premiere will be the 31st of May, and will also be the opening day of the exhibition "Kurpiński - Rossini" at Theatre Museum (open until the end of September). The opera will again take place on the 21st of June at 7 p.m. in the Moniuszko Auditorium.

when - 31st May
where - Grand Theatre, pl. Teatralny 1
more info - click here