Cultivating the third place

Hi Artists,

I've been thinking a lot about the third place lately. About how this project can be better at being a third place. The third place is the public space you go that isn't home (the first place) or work (the second place). It's your favorite coffee shop, the local pub, a yoga studio, church, the playground. 

Community, outside of work or home. 

It's really important. I'm sure we're all missing it lately.  

Ray Oldenburg, the sociologist who coined the term, writes:

"Life without community has produced, for many, a life style consisting mainly of a home-to-work-and-back-again shuttle. Social well-being and psychological health depend upon community."

The line between first and second place has gotten increasingly blurry since the advent of the laptop and the smartphone. Even my watch gets text messages and takes phone calls. My personal and professional accounts – my personal and professional selves – used to be separate. While there's some benefit to not having to turn one on, the flip side of that is that it's really hard to turn off.  

The beauty of the third place is that we get to choose it. By nature, it's neutral. You have no obligation to be there. You participate because you want to. 

We need community and third places more than ever, for both our personal and collective well-being. I hope this project can be that for you this year. And if you’re on the fence about doing a project, I get it. There are a lot of different ways you can participate in this community, and I invite you to show up in whatever way works for you right now.

A few questions:

• What are the most important third places in your life? 

• How are you feeling without their physical presence right now?

• How might you make space for third places in a virtual environment (i.e., get your needs met in new ways)?

• Where are your favorite virtual third places? 

• How might this community be a better third place? 

XO,
LJT