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Beetroots Collective is a continuation of the Polish Cultural Festival Association (PCFA), a community organisation which was incorporated in 2008 by directors Lidia Krzynówek and Joanna Zawadzka with the aim of supporting Polish – Scottish integration and to promote Polish culture and heritage.

One of the stereotypes when speaking of Polish people is a “hard-working Pole”, which makes us feel like a useful labour only, rather than a diverse community, which also wants to participate in the Polish arts and culture while living in Scotland. Mixed nationalities parents want their bilingual children to experience art and creativity in their first language. So the language won’t be associated with visits to Poland only, but also with creativity and art in the Polish community in Scotland.

According to research by Polish Charity in Scotland FENIKS – a large number of Polish people in Scotland feel isolated. Polish men in Scotland are twice as likely as Scottish men to be at risk of committing suicide and one of the barriers is language. Creating open and safe regular meetups allows isolated members of our community to go out and meet people, that would understand them.

Beetroots Collective uses visual art and sound to engage community groups of all ages and backgrounds around social issues. They explore themes spanning migration, nature, mythology, belonging, sustainability and home through participatory art.

Since 2021 award-winning artists – Marta Adamowicz and Robert Motyka have worked closely with the Polish community in Edinburgh, exploring themes of home and belonging. Together they’ve created an experimental video form called City of Homes, which was presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Alchemy Film & Arts Festival in Scottish Borders.

Beetroots Collective delivers participatory art workshops across community venues and outdoor spaces in Scotland, led by experienced intercultural artists and facilitators. Each session invites participants to explore identity, heritage, and shared experience through accessible creative practice that values every voice and background.

Workshops may open with a storyteller who introduces themes through folktales or lived narratives, setting a shared imaginative space. Other sessions begin outdoors in nature, encouraging participants to observe colours, textures, and patterns that later inspire their artwork. Techniques include linocut, traditional paper cut‑outs (wycinanki), gelli‑plate printing, and collage, offering a rich mix of tactile and visual approaches suitable for all ages and abilities.

The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, with plenty of jokes and moments of spontaneous intercultural sing‑along that help everyone feel at ease. Participants are encouraged to chat in their first languages with friends, ensuring every culture and language is welcomed, heard, and appreciated.

Videographers sometimes record participants’ statements and document the creative atmosphere, capturing the energy, collaboration, and joy of the process. Artwork and workshop recordings are often digitised and edited into audio documentaries, short videos, or projection‑mapping events, allowing community stories to be shared publicly and celebrated collectively.

Through making, storytelling, and multilingual exchange, Beetroots Collective nurtures warm, inclusive spaces where creativity builds connection.

An important part of Beetroots Collective’s method is trusting the process. Projects often begin with a rough idea, but their true shape and meaning emerge through workshops, dialogue, and creative interaction with the community. Lead artists typically open with a story and pose questions to guide and inspire participants. This approach requires patience and openness, as the final outcome – whether an animated film, a street projection, or a public exhibition – cannot be fully predicted at the outset. By trusting the process, the collective lets participants’ creativity and artwork determine the direction, ensuring results that are authentic, collaborative, and rooted in lived experience rather than imposed design.