THE POLISH LONDONERS PROJECT
‘Polish Londoners’ is a project developed by CPP Hounslow and Hounslow’s Polish communities. It explores how storytelling, folklore, and traditional crafts provide a way for Polish communities in the UK to celebrate their heritage, connect with Poland and each other, and develop new narratives as Poles living in the UK.
Through a variety of activities, including postcards, creative workshops, and artistic responses, we aim to create a space where Polish culture can thrive and evolve within the diverse landscape of London.
Postcards
Artist Alicja Orzechowska has designed a series of postcards that invite participants to share their thoughts and experiences of being Polish in London. We welcome both written and visual responses to the following questions:
- “Would you consider yourself a Polish Londoner? Why?”
- “How do you connect with your Polish roots while living in the UK?”
- “What is your favourite memory from Poland?”
- “What do you like about being Polish?”
- “What is your favourite Polish fairy tale?”
- “What do you enjoy most about Polish food?”
Share your postcards and/or responses with us using #PolishLondoners
- Facebook: @CreativeHounslow
- Instagram: @hounslow_cpp
- Email: cpphounslow@watermans.org.uk
Artistic Response – Zula Rabikowska
London-based photographer and videographer Zula Rabikowska will collaborate with the CPP team and the Polish community to create a series of six artistic responses. These works will be exhibited around Hounslow, in CPP Hounslow’s Community Gallery Spaces from August—more details to follow.
Zula’s work focuses on themes of migration, identity, and LGBTQI+ communities. Specialising in portraiture, she collaborates with artists, authors, creatives, and musicians to capture diverse stories. Zula is also an educator at Kingston University where she is committed to fostering the next generation of visual storytellers, and a founder of Rethinking Eastern Europe, an art collective exploring the meaning of Eastern European identity.
UK-POLAND SEASON 2025 ACTIVITY
Throughout 2025, we are hosting a range of FREE events and activity. Some of this forms part of the above Polish Londoners project, whilst other activity is celebrating Polish arts and culture from other perspectives. Join us!
Photo Album Making Workshop
Organised by Polish Clan Association
- Dates: 10th March 2025 – 28th April 2025
- Every Monday: 5:30 – 6:30 PM
- Location: Youth Centre Hounslow
Artist Monika Weclewska will be delivering workshops throughout March and April 2025 exploring memories of migration, home and story telling, whilst learning to make a photo album from scratch.
Easter Palm Making Workshop
Organised by Polish British Social Integration Club Wawel
- Date: 6th April 2025
- Location: Parish Centre
- Time: 2:30 PM
Artist Marta Bialkowska will lead a workshop to make traditional Easter Palms, celebrating traditional craft and heritage.
Polish Heritage Day Festival
Organised by Polish Clan Association
- Date: 10th May 2025
- Location: Lampton Park (TBC)
- Time: 2 – 8 PM
Find more info on Polish Heritage Day Festival here. CPP Hounslow will be running a workshop at the festival for you to collect and complete the ‘Polish Londoner’ postcards.
Neither here nor there (but also both at once), an exhibition by Karolina Dworska
- Date: June – October 2025
- Location: Hanworth Library, after October it will tour across Hounslow’s public libraries
A new exhibition by textile artist Karolina Dworksa. Part of CPP Hounslow’s touring library exhibition programme, commissioned by Hounslow Exhibitions Group, these newly commissioned textiles explore “Ponglish” identity through the lens of traditional Polish craft and folklore. Find out more about the exhibition here.
Polish Music Festival – Myzyki Fest London
- Date: 16th August 2025
- Location: Bell Square, Hounslow High Street
- Time: 4 – 10 PM
A free music festival celebrating Polish contemporary music with a mix of live artists and DJs including: Blanka Barbara (DJ); Retro Girls; Amanda L’ska; Mateusz Mijal and Good Friend Rik. CPP Hounslow will be running a workshop at the festival for you to collect and complete the ‘Polish Londoner’ postcards.
Polish Londoners Exhibition
- Date: 30th August 2025
- Location: Brentford Library
- Time: 11:00-17:00
Join us as we launch a series of exhibitions across CPP Hounslow’s Community Galleries. These exhibitions will feature new works by Zula Rabikowska and showcase the broader Polish Londoners project. Polish Londoners launches across multiple sites in Hounslow: Brentford Library, Hounslow House (in the downstairs cafe), Treaty Centre (1st floor) and Salisbury Café.
A free public opening event will be held at Brentford Library, 11-17:00, during Creative Mile. Come along and view exhibition, meet the team and take part in the postcard activity.
Theatre is Freedom / Teatr to Wolność
- Date: 5-21st September 2025
- Location: Bell Square, Hounslow High Street
An outdoor Polish theatre festival which includes the UK premiere of Bal (The Ball) by Teatr KTO, Lost Dream by Teatr Osmego Dnia and The Tempest by Teatr Biuro Podróży. The Festival features productions by some of the most established Polish companies – legendary across the world for their spectacular outdoor performances.
Many of these companies, established in the 1960s-1990s, have toured widely and have developed London audiences at Bell Square over the last 10 years. The Festival will bring a significant focus on the world-class quality of this work and provide the opportunity for audiences to witness the extraordinary and spectacular range of their productions. https://www.bellsquarelondon.com/whats-on
About Polish Clan Association
The Polish Clan Association is an open community dedicated to supporting and engaging with the Polish community in London. As a non-profit organisation, all donations and event proceeds are directed toward those in need. Our mission is to create a strong network of Polish individuals while providing essential assistance and cultural support.
About Club Wawel
The goal of Club Wawel is to improve the assimilation of Poles in England. We organise various charitable events and legal-themed meetings aimed at better familiarising the community with English law and facilitating a smoother integration process for Poles in the UK.
About UK / Poland Season 2025
UK/Poland Season 2025 is a diverse programme of over 100 multi-artform events in 40 cities in both countries. The Season will invigorate the UK-Poland cultural dialogue in addressing global challenges, and will open new opportunities for cultural leaders and the next generation of artists. https://www.britishcouncil.pl/en/programmes/uk-poland-season-2025
Join us in celebrating Polish heritage and creating a vibrant, inclusive community through storytelling, crafts, and artistic expression!
GET IN TOUCH
If you want to find out more about our work, volunteer or partner with us, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at cpphounslow@watermans.org.uk.
To keep up to date with our events and activities, join the CPP Hounslow monthly newsletter here.
You can also follow us on social media:
Facebook: @CreativeHounslow
Instagram: @hounslow_cpp