Ognisko Polskie (Polish Hearth Club) has served to promote Polish culture in London for 71 years and now risks being sold.

Established by the British Council on 16th July 1940 and opened by The Duke and Duchess of Kent and Lord Halifax, Foreign Secretary, it was attended by The Polish President, Mr M Raczkiewicz, the Polish Prime Minister, General Sikorski, and members of the Polish Cabinet. It has flourished over the years, being a venue for cultural and social events ranging from lectures, concerts and art exhibitions. It is a flagship of our joint cultural heritage and deserves to continue. Many Poles, including our families who suffered the hardships of World War II and the associated enforced exile, have contributed to its success over the last 71 years. The proposed sale of the building will be an immense loss and damaging to the Polish Community.

We feel that the directors of Ognisko Limited have not explored the full range of business options to make Ognisko Polskie financially viable once more.

We urge to sign this petition in support of our campaign to stop the sale of Ognisko Polskie, 55 Princes Gate, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2PN.

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Mayor Ted Ellis

Ted Ellis is a native of Bluffton, Indiana, and was elected Mayor in 1995 after serving nine years on the Wells County Council. He is a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in economics.

Ellis is the First Vice President of the National League of Cities and the elected treasurer of United Cities and Local Governments, the international association representing local and regional governments and their national associations. He was the recipient of a John J. McCloy fellowship in Urban Affairs to study city issues in Germany. He is past president of Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. Ted is a founding member of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. He was named a “Sagamore of the Wabash” by the Governor of Indiana. The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns awarded him the Russell Lloyd Award for “outstanding contributions to local government.”

He is past president of the Bluffton Free Street Fair Association. Ted is Moderator of the First Baptist Church in Bluffton and past board member of the American Baptist Churches of Indiana. He serves on the boards of the Ossian State Bank, Bluffton Regional Medical Center and the Wells County Foundation. He is a life member of the American Mensa Society.

Ted’s wife, Marge, is a native of Holland, Michigan. They have four children and five grandchildren.

WELSH ASSEMBLY

In celebration of the 55th Anniversary of the CBR; and to raise awareness of the historical background of the building,once home and laboratory of Marie Curie Sklodowska the renowned artists Magdalena Rutkowska and Tom Milasz donated two portraits capturing significant figures who in the past played major role in the history of the building.The unveiling took place at the History Gala, Reception and Dinner on Saturday, January 15th at CBR in the presence of prof.MP.Ryszard Miazek,MP Marek Sawicki and many other government officials.

In this year’s edition of Britain’s Next Top Model with Elle Mcphearson , while the girls are strutting down the catwalks, the world of fashion will also be explored through the exquisite artwork of internationally acclaimed artist, Magdalena Rutkowska.
Over recent years Magdalena has gained more and more media interest partly for her advocacy in the arts (running exhibitions such as Catch in the Eye giving emerging artists a voice and the Art Minerva Project, using art to raise money for restoration works and various charities), but also for her own artwork, now held in private collections across Europe and worldwide. In the homes of celebrities and adorning the walls of places such as the Marie Curie Home and Laboratories which those days is used as a museum and venue for many  cultural representatives meeting and lectures. Her strong sense of design, colour and sensitivity have many talking, even acquiring letters of appreciation from the likes of Boris Johnson and elegant Italian restaurant Bacci de Angelo.
She has since sat on the judging panels of many art competitions such as the Churchill Portrait prize alongside the likes of the Hon Celia Sandy’s and is one of the co-founders of the Barbara Hamilton Portrait Academy.
It is quite fitting that Magdelena’s work be shown co-inciding with this edition of BNTM, as fashion has also been a great passion of the artist’s, and her involvement in it has been just as active as in that of the artworld.
Magdalena designed Jewellery and other accessories as a young student and supplied it to several boutiques. She has been involved in the team leading board responsible for designing catwalk and art lay out for Leather-goods show at London Olympia during the London fashion week and the fashion part of viva la France at London Olympia previously providing art and live drawing of models on the catwalk and back stage.
She has always looked at the overall esthetic and design within things leading her to be involved in interior design within the homes of “well known” and providing artwork for movie’s and theatre sets including Talk Back (previously Thames TV) and Shepherton studios.
This exhibition will feature her latest work providing an exclusive chance to see and purchase the originals of long anticipated new work, and will prove to be one not to be missed.

by .MM.E-PRESS.AU

Celebrating 200 years of Frederic Chopin

POLISH

FRENCH

ITALIAN

2010 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of one of the world’s greatest and much loved classical composers Frederic Chopin.  In many cities across the world this year, there will be recitals and exhibitions to commemorate the life and music of this virtuoso, from afar a field as China all the way back to his home town in Poland and London will be no exception.

As our way of marking this most auspicious occasion, Eclusier Gallery is proud to announce that they will be running a competion.  The ‘Picturing Chopin portrait prize’.

Artists are invited to paint or illustrate an A3 portrait of the composer and submit it via the Eclusier Gallery website  by the 28th of August after which time a shortlist of the 10 best entries, will be selected for exhibition in a prestigious location.

Prize winners will be announced at the end of September.

Prizes

1st Prize – VIP Weekend for 2 in Warsaw

The artist who receives the first prize, will be awarded a weekend for two to Warsaw capital of Poland,Frederic Chopin mother country.  This will include flights, collection from Chopin airport in Warsaw accommodation next to the Royal Palace, dinner, and tickets to Chopin House in Zelazowa Wola and museum.

2nd Prize – Tickets to  classical music concert

Second prize winners will receive tickets to classical music concert and a dinner for two in prestigious restaurant in London

Submit Now

Entries are open for the prize from now until the 28th of August.

An entry fee of only £10 per image applies to cover running costs of the prize.

All images must be A3 in size.

Artists are asked to submit entries via registering on the Eclusier Gallery website http://eclusier.com/forum. and uploading their images for selection.  (please note, while we will need a digital copy of your work for selection via the website, the actual portrait itself must not be a photograph or digital image as such).

Eclusier Gallery

http://gallery.eclusier.com/

Details are still being prepared but I am very excited to be given the opportunity to take the concept to the heart of the West End, at an exclusive location in the midst of Covent Garden’s eclectic and hedonistic atmosphere.

Catch by the Eye, Save in the Heart

I know this isn’t much to go on, but details are imminent.  In the meantime the exhibition’s main web-page will be at  http://www.catchcoventgarden.com.

Please email Magdalena at exhibit@eclusier.com for more information, or use this contact form.