Cracow Creche Workshop
Classes and Events
Our 2008 Fall Szopka Workshops
Learn to take simple materials like cardboard, colored foil paper and ribbon to make a beautiful "Cracow szopka" or Cracow Christmas Creche.
We are happy to announce our fall workshops. Due to increased interest, this fall we will be holding two workshop series in two convenient locations: The South Hills and McKees Rocks.
Workshops consist of 6 weekly sessions, two hours each.
Students of all ages attend our workshops. Individual adult students as well as family teams are welcome to register. Immediate family members are permitted to register as one team for one registration fee. Children 14 years or younger are asked to register with one of their parents or grandparents as a family team.
What you receive:
- Each registration gets an illustrated step-by-step Course Manual.
- Pre-cut patterns are distributed each week for you to finish, assemble and decorate.
- You will also receive basic materials and electric lights to finish your szopka.
- Each course begins with an Audio-Visual presentation about Cracow and the history of this traditional Folk Craft.
Students will be invited to display their work on DECEMBER 16 at a professionally produced public Exhibition and Holiday Reception at the University of Pittsburgh. Each student will receive printed invitations to invite friends and family to this unique event.
Do you have to be an artists to take the workshops?
We offer an easy, step-by-step method. No advanced skills are needed. Each week you will receive pre-cut patterns and easy to follow instructions.
But I can't make every class.!
We will try to accommodate our students in any way possible. If a student cannot attend a particular week's class, every effort will be made to provide them with that week's materials.
But I'm not Polish!
Doesn't matter. Our workshops are open to anyone and everyone. Perhaps you appreciate the arts? Or maybe you're looking for a new creative experience? Or perhaps you'd like a family project and would like to make a unique family heirloom? Some of our younger students are home-schooled and use our Szopka Workshops as part of their World Culture studies. Whatever your background or motivation, these workshops are designed to provide you with an exceptional cultural experience.
Workshop Fees:
Workshop fees are $105 + $25 materials fees. There is a 10% discounts for registrations received before August 22. (Workshop terms and conditions are listed on our PDF registration flyer.)
Workshop Sites:
South Hills Location:
Dates: Six Thursdays:
September 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16; Nov. 6, 13
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: St. Gregory Church Hall *
2005 Mohhawk Road, Brookside Farms
See reverse for map and directions. - See flyer for map and directions.
Directions to St. Gregory's
St. Gregory's is located in Upper St. Clair, off Route 19 past South Hills Village. If coming from Pittsburgh, travel through Dormont, Mt. Lebanon past South Hills Village which will be on your left. Continue on Rt. 19. At Westminster Presbyterian Church get into the LEFT turn lane and turn LEFT into BROOKSIDE FARMS. You will be on Brookside Blvd. Make first RIGHT onto MOHAWK. St. Gregory's is located at 2005 Mohwak on the right. Park in lower parking lot in the rear of the Church and enter through the indicated door to the social hall.
McKees Rocks Location:
Dates: Six Saturdays:
September 20, 27; October 11, 18; Nov. 1, 8
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Location: The beautiful new
District (a few blocks down from Pat Catan's Craft Store )
See reverse for map and directions
Directions to The Father Arts Center
To reach the Center, take Route 51 from downtown Pittsburgh/West End to
To Register:
Download the PDF flyer, complete and return with payment to:
D. Motak,
Cracow Creche Workshop
3205 Kennebec Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15241-1103
If you cannot download the flyer, please contact us at: contact@cracowcrafts.com or 412-835-0539. Please make checks payable to Cracow Creche Workshop.
For a PDF of the Workshop Flyer: Click Here
(Click here to download the free Adobe PDF Reader)
Fall Workshop Flyer
If you would like a flyer mailed to your home, please go to our mailing list.
Our 2008 Szopka Exhibition
Our annual Szopka Exhibition and Holiday Reception has quickly become one of Pittsburgh's most unique Holiday events. Each year the completed works of our Cracow Creche Workshop students are placed on display in the elegant Lower Lounge of the William Pitt Student Union on the University of Pittsburgh Oakland Campus. The event is hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Nationality Rooms and the Polish Classroom Committee. The event is free and open to the general public. This year, the event will be held Saturday, December 6 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (Note: This is a tentative date and location; updated information will be announced/mailed in November.)
To receive a personal invitation to this year's Exhibition, please get on our mailing list: Mailing List
To view photos of our Workshops and our Annual Student Exhibition, please visit Educational Programs.