Colourful insight into Polish culture

VISITORS to the museum were treated to a colourful, musical and vibrant insight into the city’s Polish heritage during the weekend.

The Poles Apart: Polish Heritage Event was held at the museum, in Priestgate, on Sunday afternoon.

It was a chance for visitors to look around at an exhibition about Peterborough’s Polish community which is currently on show in the community cafe at the museum until May 18.

There was also the chance to listen to traditional Polish music performed by youngsters from the Polish Saturday School Choir as well as a speech by one of the community’s oldest residents Jan Czwortek.

The main community event organiser was Aneta Weigelt, who is headteacher of the Nicholas Copernicus Polish Saturday School.

Laura Hancock, the museum’s heritage coordinator, said: “It was held as part of the series of community exhibitions and events at the museum.

“We have a Polish exhibition on at the moment so the event was held to celebrate that and to encourage people to come in over the next couple of weeks to see it while it is still on.

“As it was a free event it is difficult to tell how many people came to the museum specifically for this event but during the key part, featuring traditional singing, the room was at full capacity with people waiting outside so that was about 90 people.”

It is part of a series of community celebrations put on earlier this year including Roma Gypsy and Pakistani events.

The next one will take place on September 22 to celebrate the city’s Ugandan Asian community.

Celebration: Singers performing traditional Polish songs to the sound of an accordion during the Polish Heritage event at Peterborough Museum. (METP-06-05-12AL114) Picture: ANDY LAITHWAITE.