Polish Social and Cultural Association
The POSK building in Hammersmith.
The Polski Ośrodek Społeczno-Kulturalny (POSK) is the Polish Social and Cultural Association in London. It was founded and funded in 1967, at the initiative of Polish engineer Roman Wajda, at 238-246 King Street, Hammersmith where Poles who had escaped the occupation of their country congregated in west London.[1]
POSK promotes Polish culture and art. It houses the Library of Poland in London, which was founded in 1942, exhibitions, film screenings, theatre performances and a regular jazz club. There is also a Polish cafe and a restaurant.
Numerous Polish organizations are hosted within the building, including:
- Zjednoczenie Polskie w Wielkiej Brytanii - ZPWB (The Federation of Poles in Great Britain - the largest Polish organisation in Britain which itself hosts a number of other organisations)
- Instytut Józefa Piłsudskiego (J. Piłsudski Institute in London)
- Polish University Abroad - PUNO
- Polskie Towarzystwo Naukowe na Obczyźnie - PTNO (Polish Society of Arts and Sciences Abroad)
- Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatantów - SPK (Polish Combatants Association)
The original membership fee was £10 but this was updated in 2008 by the new President, Ewa Brzeska.[2]
References
- ↑ Benedict Le Vay, Eccentric London
- ↑ Wiktor Moszczynski, Hello, I'm Your Polish Neighbour