The first cafe bar to exhibit work through Comme Ca Art was Generation X, a twenty something eclectic bar based in the heart of Manchester. From the very first exhibition, the city was hooked. Phone calls from artists desperate to find a place to exhibit their works and drinks companies looking for a way to reach their target market came flooding in. Claire knew they had found a new and exciting niche and over the next few years built up an enviable alternative venue programme with some of the best cafe bars in Manchester.

At the height of Comme Ca’s involvement in the cafe bar scene, the company worked with The Cornerhouse, programming of the ground floor bar and first floor cafe, Manto Group, programming exhibitions at Manto cafe bar and Generation X, The Leadstation, sister cafe bar to The Lime Tree, owned by celebrated Manchester Chef, Patrick Hannity in Chorlton, Manchester and the first ‘Women Only’ cafe bar, Vanilla, situated in the gay village.

The variety of cafe bars meant Comme Ca could show a wide range of artworks, which both complimented the interior settings and most importantly appealed to the cafe bar customers. Artists who were in a catch twenty two situation of not having enough exhibitions under their belt to apply for exhibitions in art institutions had at last found an alternative venue scene where a huge audience of people got to see their works and more importantly, started to buy their works.

Example exhibitions:
The Little Artists | Liquid Landscapes

(Top image Mel Smith)

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