The Cultural Section at the U.S. Embassy has a healthy budget for sponsoring a wide variety of cultural and educational programs throughout the year, and it shows.

The program season-which starts in September and ends in July with celebrations related to Independence Day on July 4-includes exhibitions, musical programs and theater events.

The program calendar since January 2003 has been particularly busy. Through Feb. 28, the cultural section of the U.S. embassy in connection with the U.S. Department of State, sponsored a photography exhibition at ZTAF Gallery by Joel Meyerowitz connected with the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, entitled After September 11: Images from Ground Zero. The exhibition was shown in 135 cities and 64 countries by the end of 2002. After its stint in Warsaw, the embassy received a number of requests from other Polish cities that were interested in hosting the event, which is currently in Toruń. In May, the section co-sponsored two unique events-a street art exhibition featuring chalk art, entitled Our World and Our Poland in front of the Palace of Culture; and Turning Sounds, a musical event which featured DJs from Austria, England and the U.S.

The cultural section has also awarded grants in support of events, including a January exhibit at Zachęta Gallery, featuring the work of French sculptor Louise Bourgeois; a current film festival organized by Gutek Film, entitled Era of New Horizons in Cieszyn; and to Dramatyczny Theater for their recent presentation of To You, the Birdie, organized by the Wooster Group. Due to a great deal of interest in Native Americans, the section is planning to sponsor a 10-day presentation by a Native American Indian group at the outdoor museum in Biskupin, and has received a request from Roma Theater for funding to bring an American choreographer to Poland for its planned staging of the musical Cats.

Among other events, the embassy also organizes American Thursdays on the first Thursday of each month during its program season, featuring lectures by visiting U.S. scholars and embassy officials on a range of topics in the areas of American culture, history, economics, sports and U.S. domestic policy. Sawchyn also emphasizes the section's annual education and professional exchanges, which send a number of Polish academics and businesspeople to the U.S. The same number of American academics also travel to Poland.

The largest annual event is undoubtedly American Days, a celebration of American independence which is held in a different regional city in Poland each year. Previous American Day events took place in Ełk and Sandomierz. This year's third annual celebration will be held in Białystok July 4-6. Opened officially by Mayor of Białystok Ryszard Tur and American Ambassador to Poland Christopher Hill, the event includes a picnic, games and contests, as well as poetry readings, screenings of American movies and a display of chalk art on the streets of Białystok. Performances by The United States Army Europe Soldiers' Chorus, the Poetica Musica group, jazz singer Miles Griffith, the dance company Zvi Gotheiner and Dancers, Puppettheater Mum and Old Grey Goose Old Time Country Song & Dance Band will also be held.

These people-to-people contacts or public diplomacy are an important part of the embassy's presence in Poland, says Sawchyn. "I was a little skeptical about the special U.S.-Poland relationship when I first came here, but I'm firmly convinced that there is something special going on, even if it sounds a little cliché," said Sawchyn. "When we go to these small events or travel around the country, there is genuine warmth and interest. We really feel like we're among friends." Proof of this Polish affection for America is frequently expressed by gifts from Polish citizens for the embassy, which recently included a homemade monument for the victims of the 9/11 attacks and a huge box containing a model of the architect's vision for the future of Ground Zero.

Dena Gurgul