Recuperation of Art and Activism. An e-mail correspondence.

The following is an email correspondence facilitated by Paul Stewart, artist and writer, in conversation with Alistair Hudson, Director at mima, and Sam Thorne, Director at Nottingham Contemporary. The contributors were chosen specifically based on both of their shifts from running art projects situated outside the institutional system in the UK—Griezdale Art Projects and Open School East respectively—and their transition to becoming directors at very mainstream institutions, specifically how this affects their politics and the work they do. Jeni Fulton, writer and editor based in Berlin, also shares with us her perspective on the limits of activism. Does this shift from outside to inside the institution suppress the intent of outside projects and their attempt at estranging from the institution?