Task co-financed as part of the Senate of the Republic of Poland’s care for the Polish diaspora and Poles abroad in 2025.
Task co-financed as part of the Senate of the Republic of Poland’s care for the Polish diaspora and Poles abroad in 2025.
Rebuilding the cultural bridge between Poland and Polonia
From what we see, most visits from Poland to the U.S. are very short and look something like this:
By this point, it’s already been about 16 hours for someone who was tired before they even left after several days of packing, planning, and finishing work at and home affairs
On such a schedule, it is very hard to have real conversations, build relationships, or truly learn anything about the country or its culture.
On longer trips there is more time to breathe, to see the city, to meet people. But that extra time usually comes with a big price tag: the work visa.
If you are an artist, performer, or scholar coming on a work visa (like O or P), you and your U.S. host have to spend a lot of money before you ever play a note or say a word on stage.
Take a simple example: inviting one pianist for a one-day recital. Even for that single evening you still need a full work visa, such as P-3.
Once the petition is approved in the U.S., the work is not over for the artist:
Very often, to survive this process, the presenter or the artist also has to hire a lawyer, adding even more cost.
Now imagine not just one pianist, but a theatre company with actors, technicians, musicians. Suddenly the cost of bringing real culture across the ocean becomes huge, so only a few institutions even try.
And yet, coming on a P-3 visa has one big advantage: It lets the artist be paid legally, stand on stage without fear, and proudly share a culturally unique art form with American audiences. So the artist can promote their work and heritage openly— but the price of opening that door is high.
Longer visits allow more time to rest, see the city, and meet people. But this extra time usually comes with a high cost: the work visa.
If you are an artist, performer, or scholar coming on a work visa (like O or P), you and your U.S. host have to spend a lot of money before you ever play a note or say a word on stage. Take a simple example: inviting one pianist for a one-day recital. Even for that single evening you still need a full work visa, such as P-3.
Once the petition is approved in the U.S., the work is not over for the artist:
Very often, to survive this process, the presenter or the artist also has to hire a lawyer, adding even more cost.
Now imagine not just one pianist, but a theatre company with actors, technicians, musicians. Suddenly the cost of bringing real culture across the ocean becomes huge, so only a few institutions even try.
Because of these costs, many presenters shorten visits to the absolute minimum — not because it is ideal, but because it is the only affordable option.
And yet, a P-3 visa has one major advantage: it allows the artist to be paid legally, perform without fear, and share a culturally unique art form with American audiences. The artist can promote their work and heritage professionally; but the price of opening that door is high.
A Polish institution creates an entry and uploads visitor profiles with travel details and interests
Visitors become visible in the searchable directory with dates, locations, and cultural focus
Polish American hosts browse profiles and send inquiries through the platform
Institutions coordinate with visitors for off-platform meetings and cultural exchanges
Cultural exchanges play a powerful role in connecting communities across borders. Discover how Polish and American institutions create meaningful partnerships that help preserve he
With millions of Polish Americans living across the United States, cultural events are flourishing from coast to coast. Explore how festivals, exhibitions, and local programs are strengthening
From increased visibility to easier international networking, cultural directories are transforming how institutions connect globally. Learn why joining a unified platform like ZigZagPol can