ArtHouse: A Social Kitchen
Artistic Director: Theaster Gates
Connecting Food and Art to Develop a Cultural District
The City of Gary transformed an underutilized downtown building into a cultural hub that showcases visual and culinary arts. ArtHouse: A Social Kitchen, which opened in November 2016, is a partnership between artist Theaster Gates and the City to create a civic center that features commissioned works of visual art, offers culinary training and business development workshops, and provides cultural programming that uses food as a medium for community engagement. The City plans to use this public space as a catalyst to develop a cultural district and promote urban revitalization.
“I believe that public art – combined with design, community engagement, and private and government investment – can transform the way we imagine a city. This perspective is especially crucial as we continue thinking of new ways to rebuild our city as a destination where businesses of all types can spark investment in commercial districts and increase the economic integration of neighborhoods.”
