Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art commissioned The Cafe, an artwork by Luke Harding in 2016. See also: http://www.visitmima.com/plan-your-visit/cafe/
Harding playfully incorporated participatory craft workshops and an ‘inexpert’ community art aesthetic in building the cafe, designing and organising the build and all workshop events whilst questioning the boundaries between social practice, facilitation and authorship. At the time mima was embarking on an initial three-year programme as a centre for Arte Útil. The Cafe contributes-to, but also critiques some of Arte Útil’s ideas.
The Cafe is an independent art and food project – often collaborating with mima and other community groups – cooking up thoughtful and playful food events, and scenarios for ‘participatory art’.
