A SLICE of Polish Arts Cafe life was being served up as Lochgelly said Witamy! at the weekend.

Witamy!, the Polish for welcome, encompasses the Polish-Scottish cultural arts event which has been organised by Fife Polish Arts Group, Fife Polish Association MOST and the Arts and Theatres Trust Fife.

Steve Ratomski, the chairman of Fife Polish Arts Group, said the event brought together artists from Poland and Scotland who work in a variety of media from film and video, painting and collage to three-dimensional work, constructed textiles, performance, writing and music.

“Arts cafes were well known in Poland for being vibrant, creative places for artists of all disciplines to meet, talk and share ideas.

“We are recreating this in the Lochgelly Centre,” he explained.

Last month Witamy! began with the opening of two exhibitions of new artworks by the Polish and Scottish artists.

Running until December 5, there is art work in the main gallery and photographic work in the corridor gallery.

It features art by Karen Strang, Carol Mason and Peter Russell, video art by artists Alicja Lukasiak and Gzregorz Drozd, three- dimensional creations by Karol Cebula and Robert Mach and artwork by Stephen Ratomski and Eugen Jarych and photographs by members of Fife Polish Association, Most.

“I believe very strongly that Witamy! will benefit the local community by promoting intercultural contact, co-operation and friendship between ourselves and Polish immigrants living and working in Fife,” he said.

On Saturday cafe culture arrived with screenings of short Polish films made by Poles living in Fife.

Later there was a light projection artwork of a dancing angel on the exterior of Lochgelly Centre by artist Aimee Bogacz, followed by Rosa MacPherson and Arbroath writer Eugen Jarych reading in English a selection of their own short stories and poetry.

In the evening the theatre featured a monologue by George Marcinkiewicz about the life of a miner followed by an extract from the play How to Gift Wrap a Chicken, written by Rosa MacPherson and George Mancinkiewicz, and a performance on harp and flute by The Amadeus Duo of Alina Brezhinska and Margaret Preston.

Most’s honorary president Councillor Joe Rosiejak said he was pleased to see the event in Fife. “It can only help to strengthen the links between our two countries and foster cultural understanding and harmony.”