| about us | |
In the last couple of years Scotland has experienced a great number of Polish nationals coming to live and work in the country. Edinburgh City became the main destination for new comers and accommodated almost 35 000 of them. Since new migrants represent a big part of cities’ population it is important to support their successful integration, facilitate cultural exchange and wider Polish- Scottish cooperation. We believe that ‘It’s my Place’ is a project that supports those objectives by bringing together professional artists from Poland and Scotland in a community based art project. The invited artists and art students will run a number of workshops and master classes to engage members of communities from regeneration areas in Edinburgh and transform their experiences of place into works of art. Young artists taking part in the project will have an opportunity to gain valuable experience in a community work and a chance to work on a ‘live’ project. Professional artists will be supporting the community and the students at all times offering their advice and guidance. The project offers a valuable assistance, a fresh eye, creative input of artist of different nationalities and talents into the space of a neighbourhood. The person responsible for the development of the idea, management and artistic coordination of the ‘It’s my place’ project is Goshka Bialek supported by Robert Motyka and the group of young artists. The initiative is run under the umbrella of Scottish Polish Cultural Association in Edinburgh and the key partners are: With a kind support of Consul General of Poland Aleksander Dietkow and Senator Andrzej Person, chair of the Emigration Affairs and Contacts with Poles Abroad Committee, we have managed to secure funds from the Senate of Republic of Poland. We have also secured a grant from Lottery Funding – Award for All. |
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| It's My Place project is under wings of The Scottish Polish Cultural Association | |
Chairperson: Mrs Izabella Brodzinska Secretary: Mrs Elizabeth Rychlik-Sharp Short history and summary of the Association's activities The SCOTTISH POLISH CULTURAL ASSOCIATION In Edinburgh has been in existence for more than 30 years and celebrated Its Sliver Jubilee in 1995. The leading lights were the Davidsons. Edward Davidson (changed from Dawidowicz) and his wife Jean were a very dynamic duo, who really got the whole show off the ground. Eddie quite literally threw himself into the business of promoting Scotland to the Poles, and the Poles to Scotland with great support and help from his wife Jean. It Is to their credit that Edinburgh began to stamp its authority. They used their house, which was like a Polish Library and Museum at a meeting place. It was his triumph and that of Mr Coutts, curator of the Edinburgh Museums and Gallenes, thai the great Polish Exhibitions came to Edinburgh of which the most Important one was the Great Polish Amber Show. It was the first time in recent history that priceless examples of totally unique amber were ever exported from Poland oversea& At the beginning of the 1970s Polonia was organising the rebuilding and fundraising for the Warsaw Royal Castle and Eddie coordinated the Edinburgh side and significant funds were raised. The next significant exhibition was that of Wyspiański featured in the Fruit Market Gallery. There were many other exhibitions organised in conjunction with Richard Demarco, who was very keen to promote Polish art, In the early 1980s due to the situation in Poland i e martial) law, the activities of the Association temporarily halted. However in 1987, thanks to the efforts of Mrs Teresa Dzikowska and Mrs Elżbieta Rychlik-Sharp, the members of the AMOdation started meeting again and one of the first major projects was to organise a grand raffle in order to raise funds to sponsor handicapped children from Poland, who were coming to Glasgow to take part in the Olympic Games for Handicapped Children. The following year yet another grand raffle was organised to help handicapped children in Poland who live in various institutions abandoned by their parents- Since the Association's revival in 1987 we have organised many concerts with great help from Dr Colin Kingsley, many lectures have been delivered by Mr Jurek Putter (historian), Dr Paweł DobroAloishi (consul general of Poland 1990-95), Mr Gordon MacLachlan (a writer), Mr Leszek Wieclecn (consul general of Poland 1995-99) and others. Our favourite meeting place was the Rothesay Hotel however now we usually meet at the Polish CIub and other places due to the increase in our membership we require larger premises for most of our events. Unfortunately we do nol have premises of our own. At the beginning of 1993 we organised a Social Evening which tuned into a very successful dance so the following year we organised a Scottish Polish Geilidh, which was bigger and even more successful but our largest event, to-date, ;s the Silver Jubilee Bal), which again was a great success due to the efforts of the committee members. The success in organising the above dances has prompted the Committee decision to have an annual dance with a different theme every year. so In 1996 we had a "Camiyal Dance" in February and in 1897 on 25 January we had a "Burns Night", which was attended by many nationalities including We have organised a number of trips around Scotland and visits to places of interest where Scottish and Polish history had met. Recently we have invited 'Teatr izba" from Glasgow with their play Un Expected Guest" performed in English and each year during the Edinburgh Festival we organise outings to see Polish plays especially those performed In English. We have also, twice, played host to the Teatr Ludowy from Kraków who although were taking part in the Fringe Festival were not too busy to do a speed) Polish Cabaret show for the Polish community and in 1997 the Polish Television filmed the event In 1995 the newly elected chairperson, Mrs Izabella Brodzinska, involved the SPCA in reviving the Polish Saturday school, which stopped its activities for a number of years. The SPCA supports the school and Mrs Brodzinska personaliy heips the teacher to organise events commemorating Polish natlonal days sucn the 3'° May Constiiutlon Day Every year we organise a visit from Santa CIaus not just fo( the schuol chlidren but for all the chiidren in the Polish community. In 1998 on the occasion of the 3" May, Polish Constitution Day, we had the pleasure to host Mr Janusz ZahrzensKi, actor of the Polish theatre, film and television, who gave a wonderfui performance Later [nat year in October we hosłed weli-known Polish musicians Teresa Kaban-Blazej and Henryk BtazeJ who gave a recital at the Edinburgn Society of Musicians. !n 1999 we heiped tnę Chopin Circie to organise a large concert to commemorate Ihe On 17"1 October, the exact datę of Chopin's death. we organised a smalter concert at the Edinburgh Society of Musicians and once again we hosłed the Polish musicians: Teresa Kaban*Blazej and Henryk Błażej. In January 2000 we organised a Young Talent Recital and seven youngsters of Pofish descent, aged 13 to 20, sung and piayed vanous instrumenis m the filled to ttie bnm room of the Edinburgh Society of Musicians. The follow up recital took place in May 2001 and prwed to be as successful, if not morę, as the first one. We have organised Ewo successful Art exhibitions for Marlena Nizio from Kraków and Marlena Sielewicz-Sianhope from Edinburgh, one in the Pofish Ex-servicemen CIub (August 1999) and the second one in Queens Hali (September 2000}. The iatest success is the recent presentation (June 2001) of the folklore traditions, customs and rituals of the Beskid Śląski performed by the voca! and dance groups from mai region The performance was a total sell-out and attracted neariy 200 guests from all over Scotland. We were nominated for a potentiat award by Mi Wo]Ciech Tycinski. consul generał of the Republic of Poland. for our tireless efforts to promote Poland and Polish culture in Scotland In 2004 our (Jigamsation met witn a great nonour by bemg awarded a Silver siatuette by the Assofciation of Journallsts of the Republic of Poisnd. The pnze-glving ceremony, conducted by Professor Longin Pasrusiak, the chairman ot i^e Polish Senate, look place In Warsaw on 22''° ApnI 2004 and our chairperson, Mrs Broazinska, went to Warsaw to collect our prize personally. Due to the fact that Poland has joined the European Union, our organisation has received numerous important and presliglous invltatlons, On 28th ApnI 2004 Mrs Brodzinska was invited by the Prime Minister, Tony Btair, to repreaent our organisation at a party in the Forrign and Commonwealtti Office in London. On 5'" May 2004 Mre Brodzinska was irwted by the Polish Embassy to attend a meeting with the Polish President, Aleksander Kwasniewski, at the residence of Prince Chartes at St. James' Pałace in London. In 2007 Mr Aleksander Dielkow, consul generał of the Republic of Poland, nominated a number of our commiiiee members to be awarded various medals of rnerit, In Nouember 2007 during the Polish Presidents visit to UK and Scotiand, the president himself hancted out medals to Mrs Izabella Brodzinska (chairperson), Mr MIchael Borland (honorary uice-presideni) and Mrs Elizabeth Rycnilk-Sharp (honorary secretary). Thanks to the tireless efforts of ttie office bearers of the Scottish Polish Cultural Association many new members have joined the organisation especially those from mixed marriages (Scottish-Polish), who find Polish language difficult to learn and second and third generation of Poles who would tike to know more about their Polish Heneage but have language problems. Many of Our members have no Polish connections but are JUSI interested ir- Poland and want we do to promote Scottish Polish links-aIl our events are presented in English ihus making it easy for everyone. On the other riand visitors from Poland can learn more about Scotland and improve their English. Updates on activities: |
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Honorary President: Dr Colin Kingsleycopyright©itsmyplace-scotpol 2008 - design: robert motyka & agata skowrońska