Working in the Middle

This article examines food governance from a sociological perspective, focusing on how diverse actors contribute to more inclusive and capacity-building processes. Building on debates on collaborative governance and sustainable food systems, it advances the hypothesis that museums—although not formally embedded in governance structures—can act as meso-level actors by fostering learning, public engagement, and knowledge translation. The study situates museums within their transformation into socially engaged institutions and draws on a qualitative case study of New York City, combining theoretical analysis with empirical research on local actors and practices. Findings show that museums support governance processes by activating learning environments, strengthening stakeholder networks, and enhancing reflexive capacities that bridge policy and practice. The article argues that recognising museums as intermediary actors expands current understandings of food governance and supports more participatory and place-based approaches to sustainability