Polish Social and Cultural Association

"POSK" redirects here. For the South Korean head of state, see President of South Korea.

File:Posk.JPG

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.

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.

External links

• The POSK official website
• The official website of The Federation of Poles in Great Britain
• J Piłsudski Museum website
• The Polish University Abroad in London
• The Polskie Towarzystwo Naukowe na Obczyźnie website (in Polish)
• The Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatantów website (in Polish)