Why there is a need for spaces which enable creative expression?

In today's world, where society is alienated from itself, all of us are lost in performing our
conventional roles in society. Currently, we spend most of our time in two spaces- the home,
and the workplace. There is no intermediate space where we can pause for a moment. A
space for happily anticipated gatherings and for creative expression. A space for our mind,
body, and spirit allows us to express ourselves and helps us rediscover our own identity. A
space that is a neutral ground, free from social bias for people with shared interests to come
together and practice. These spaces can be called third places.
Art plays a big role in community building. It is a form of human expression and creativity. It
can create spaces that are inclusive of creativity and curiosity which brings people together
and engages with society.
What is the potential of such spaces to become an opportunity for society to explore their
own identity?
How do these stitch communities together and reconnect with who we are and with the
world outside on more profound levels?
In our everyday life, most of us spend time at home [first place] and work [second place].
Home is our personal space. It provides us with security, identity, stability, and emotional
warmth. The workplace is a social place where we create social identity and professional
connections. It is our means of earning by providing services. we even end up spending most
of our time at the workplace. All of us are so consumed in these two spaces that there is no
intermediate space in-between where people come together to engage and express. Not
professionally but personally. These spaces can be considered as Third place.
Third place is important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and establishing
feelings of a sense of place. Third places host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily
anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work.
[Oldernburg,2000]. It is a space that is for everyone to express themselves creatively. Where
people gather and practice, learn things together, and build a community. A neutral ground
that belongs to everyone regardless of their social status. Such spaces bring communities
together. When communities come together, they exchange their culture, ideas, and skills. It
becomes a place of diversity.
It is not an art class where there are teachers who teach students and students who pay fees.
It does not have a certain schedule where one can express and practice for a fixed time. It is a
place by people for people. The purpose of this social space is for people to gather together
to practice art, exchange ideas, engage with new people and their culture and the world
outside, relax, have a freedom of expression, focus on common issues for the betterment of
the community and the humankind and work on it intuitively.
When spaces that offer means and facilities for expressing creativity are not publicly shared,
they become the objects of private ownership and consumption and hence these spaces can
become expensive. Third place can be explained as means for people to gather easily,
inexpensively, regularly, and pleasurably. Most needed are those 'Third places' which lend a
public balance to the increased privatization of home life. The third place is remarkably similar
to a good home in the psychological comfort and support that it extends. They are the heart
of a community's social vitality, the grassroots of democracy. Third places are "anchors" of
community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Lefebvre, h. (1974). The production of space. United stares of america: t.j. Press ltd.
• Oldenburg, r. (1999). The great good place. United states: da capo press.
• Sadler, s. (1998). The situationist city. United states of: first mit press paperback edition.
• Soja, e. W. (1996). Thirdspace. Los angeles : blackwell publishers.

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