Thousands turn out for Middlesbrough town meal

The Middlesbrough Town Meal was the finale of the Dott 07 (Designs of the time 2007) Urban Farming project and saw people gather in Centre Square, outside of mima (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art), to eat food that they themselves had grown over the summer.

‘Urban farmers’ from across Middlesbrough have used design principles to directly address the issue of food miles and their impact on the environment. They have cultivated a wide range of vegetables, fruit and herbs in unusual containers and locations in the town.

Schools, community groups, retailers, Middlesbrough Council, nursing homes and university students have all participated in the project and today’s event allowed them to gather together and literally enjoy the fruits of their labours.

The event was officially opened by Ray Mallon, Mayor of Middlesbrough, and along with the meal, featured entertainment, ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ challenges and smoothie sampling. Running alongside the meal was The Really Super Market, a one day art fair, with a ‘food versus art’ theme, organised by mima with artists Bob & Roberta Smith. A Tug O’ War between artists and urban farmers provided great entertainment for the crowds, who were also treated to displays of Morris dancing and Punch and Judy shows.

The Middlesbrough Town Meal marked the end of what has been a hugely successful project. Over 1,000 people cultivated and harvested crops in preparation for today’s meal. Middlesbrough Council has been so impressed by the response from the public that it is now planning to create a lasting legacy and a role for urban farming in the ongoing regeneration of the town. 

Urban Farming and the Middlesbrough Town Meal were part of Dott 07, a year of community projects, events and exhibitions in North East England that explore what life in a sustainable region could be like and how design can help us get there. A partnership between One NorthEast and the Design Council, Dott 07 enables communities and individuals in the region to collaborate with designers in realistic situations. For more information visit www.dott07.com.

For more information contact Saskia Sissons on 020 7420 5248 or saskia.sissons@designcouncil.org.uk

Notes to editors:

1. Dott 07 (Designs of the time 2007) is a year of community projects based in North East England that explore what life in a sustainable region could be like - and how design can help us get there.
2. Dott 07 is a partnership between the Design Council and One NorthEast
3. Dott 07 is the first biennial in a 10-year ‘Designs of the time’ programme of design innovation, developed by the Design Council, and taking place every two years in a different region or nation across the UK.
4. Dott 07 asks the question ‘Who Designs Your Life?’ and looks at six key themes: health and wellbeing, food and nutrition, school and community, energy and environment, sustainable tourism, and mobility and access.
5. Dott 07 is ‘user centred’ – it enables communities and individuals in the region to collaborate with designers in realistic situations.
6. Dott 07 projects address real questions and issues, using design principles to find solutions.
7. Dott 07 is being led by programme director John Thackara, renowned internationally for his work as director of design futures network Doors Of Perception, which encourages designers, technology experts and grass roots innovators to work together in new ways.
8. Executive producer is Robert O’Dowd, who has extensive experience in business and creative development.  He was a founding director of Classic FM and is now chief executive of Real Health (UK) Ltd and 180 Solutions (UK) Ltd.
9. Urban Farming Project Director is David Barrie, who has extensive experience of running urban regeneration, city development and design projects. The project team includes design company Zest Innovation and Debra Solomon, food domain expert from www.culiblog.com Dott 07 forms part of North East England’s world class programme of events and festivals for 2007
10. The Design Council is the UK’s national strategic body for design. It aims to strengthen and support the economy and society by demonstrating and promoting the role of design in making business and public services more effective.
11. Dott is one of two national programmes of social and economic change driven by the Design Council. Designing Demand, its national business support programme, rolls out in the region later in the year.
12. One NorthEast is the Regional Development Agency covering North East England. It was set up in 1999 to transform the area through ‘sustainable economic development’ and to create jobs, prosperity and a better quality of life for residents. It covers the region comprising County Durham, Northumberland, Tees Valley and Tyne and Wear.