Why be OPEN?
Providence is home to a number of world class galleries, libraries, archives, and museums offering daily opportunities for discovery and joy. Our city’s motto, The Creative Capital, is born from the countless artists, craftspeople, and organizers call greater Providence home. Why then, does it sometimes feel like something is missing?
The one thing I’ve heard time and time again when working with teams from RISD Museum, AS220, Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence Public Library, Art, Culture + Tourism, and others: Providence lacks third spaces.
What is a “third space”? It is a loosely defined place, a social environment beyond home and work where people build community. Cafés, pubs, and libraries fill this niche to a degree—but they either require financial transactions to attend, or only host a narrow band of happenings. DIY venues and warehouses are great third spaces expect that they tend to operate in the shadows, often out of necessity, prioritizing the safety of at-risk communities. Providence’s colleges, as interesting and impactful as they can be, are insular—faculty is often underpaid, overworked, and not incentivized to do work beyond campus boundaries. We need third spaces where people can gather and participate, or not, in whatever’s going on. Third spaces offer comfort and community with no expectations.
Some years ago I worked in hospitality at Ace Hotel in New York, famous for it’s bustling lobby. While the lobby offered food and beverages, nobody was expected to buy a thing. This is really important. The lobby hosted DJs, gallery exhibitions, and a variety of programs tied into citywide moments like Fashion Week or art fairs. Anyone could come and enjoy those things, or just camp out with a laptop. Another nonprofit I worked for had the motto A Place to Be, which sums the idea up well.
What if this model was applied at city-wide scale? What if we built more mixed-use, genre-expansive exhibition and hangout spaces that foster social health, economic development, and that provide both learning opportunities and lazy time? Local readers may be thinking, “What about AS220?” As great as AS220 is, it’s one place. What we have is a local supply issue, not a demand issue. We should, and can, have exhibition spaces in every neighborhood, each with it’s own aesthetic and energy.
Initial Inspiration
Images: Helping youth install art at RISD Museum for Gallerie All Together; installation shot of QUERI at the Dye House; Winslow Garden Elders Theatre project, funded by Awesome Foundation Rhode Island; Panelists at Grant Jam ‘24 at AS220; installation shot of painter Miles Shelton’s work at Paper Nautilus.