Third places at the heart of societal issues: EPALE has been talking about them!
What do we mean by “third places”?
“Coworking spaces, cultural hubs, fab labs, nurturing third places... they all share the common goal of pooling spaces and skills, combining activities and bringing together a committed community of citizens, promoting cooperation to meet the challenges of their local area.” (source: France Tiers-lieux)
In France, over the years, third places have received recognition and institutional support. They are organised by region and by theme. Today, there are more than 3,500 spaces across the country, a third of them in rural areas and a quarter in medium-sized cities (source: Observatoire des Tiers-Lieux).
Given the budgetary and political context, this support is no longer as strong. And yet these places have proven their worth, at the interface between social issues, integration, training, culture, etc. For example, 16% of them host a public service (source: Observatoire des Tiers-Lieux).
They are therefore constantly reinventing themselves, looking for new models that will enable them to continue their activities.
Since the launch of EPALE, many articles and resources have been published, focusing on the learning aspects of these places. How can I, as an adult, access learning in these places? How do they address the major European priorities such as the ecological transition, democratic life and collective commitment, the digital transition and inclusion?
Sociologist Antoine Burret, an associate expert on the platform in 2021, for example, posted a series of articles throughout the year – in a post-pandemic context. Other experts highlighted various aspects: fab labs and AI, disability, shared governance, ecology, rurality, etc.
Several European countries are developing “innovative learning spaces”, including Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Finland and Kosovo.
In these times of budget restrictions, what difficulties are these places facing?
On the occasion of EPALE’s 10th anniversary, and the Global SSE Forum to be held in Bordeaux at the end of October 2025, we have decided to highlight the richness of these experiments.
And if you would like to share other places, please comment below!
Places of learning and emancipation
EPALE meeting: “Territories for learning and third places are inspiring spaces.” Coordination André Chauvet, EPALE expert on support for professional transitions
Tiers-Lieuses 2025 meetings. Coordination of non-profit, non-speculative third places
What if nursing homes became places to work? A social innovation to open up nursing homes to society
Interview with Rémi Mauvoisin, from the mobile fab lab Le BAL. A former technology teacher at a middle school in Paris, Rémi Mauvoisin is now the fab manager of a mobile fab lab in the Landes region, called Le BAL.
An overview of AI mediation (or lack of it) in fab labs. A short survey of French fab lab.
FOCUS on the publications of Antoine Burret, sociologist, specialist in third places, EPALE expert in 2021
Read more
Examples of third places in France and Europe
France
A third place dedicated to reuse and social innovation: the example of La Mine in the Val de Marne region. Presentation of this third place, located in a new residential area of Greater Paris, and thoughts on shared governance, degrowth and new professions by David Lopez, EPALE expert.
The DOC collective in Paris, a truly self-managing “third place”. Interview with Célia Cansier and Cécile Grandmaire, managers
Café&Co, a third place where everyone has a place in society! Interview with Sébastien Calvo, in charge of the venue, focusing on issues relating to integration and disability
The emergence of a third place for learning: The example of Konk Ar Lab. Pecha Kucha by Olivier Audet, director of the Fab lab located in a priority neighbourhood
[THEMATIC BOOKLET]: Third places for learning
Konk Ar Lab: making and learning together: a Fab Lab at the service of all. A collaborative work space where various local stakeholders meet in the heart of a priority district of Concarneau.
KEUR ESKEMM: temporary spaces; places for popular education. The “Maison des échanges”, also in Brittany, has developed People’s Artistic Laboratories, promoting informal learning.
[FOCUS WEEK] Le Talus, a third place garden in Marseille, reinventing transtions! Interview with Hippolyte Le Bougnec, Administrative and Financial Manager
Belgium, Italy, Germany, Kosovo...
Focus on third places in French-speaking Belgium
Read more
Third places, territorial labotories. Comprehensive article on third places in Belgium, particularly in Wallonia: issues, activities, resources.
Third places for learning: virtual immersion, connection with nature or in-store experiences
L'arbre qui pousse, a Regenerative village aka rural Third place
Third-places in Europe - a benchmarking study
Innovative learning spaces: What's in a name?
EPALE-zine Innovative learning spaces
Third places: fallow land to encourage the emergence of citizens
| 
This work
"Association trois tiers"
is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
|
[GERMANY] Be a maker - not a taker! The Cologne Public Library explores new territory. How can libraries harness digital transformation to engage a wide audience?
[GERMANY] Third places as a way of negotiating identity(ies)
[AUSTRIA] Caring Living Labs Graz: living well in old age. Focus on a research and community education project in support of the elderly, with strong links to other groups such as migrants.
[ITALY] Radical learning - imagining the collaborative spaces of the future as places of continuous learning. The third place “Impact Hub Florence” has been used to conceptualise and experiment with new forms of learning.
[ITALY] Urban community gardens: innovative spaces for learning and participation. An Erasmus+ project involving Italy, Austria and France.
[PODCAST CORAL-ITN] Rural fab labs. A behind-the-scenes look at fab labs far from cities, in Greece, Germany, Spain and France.
[KOSOVO] Empowering Youth of Kosovo Through Upcycling Plastic Waste Practices: DYVÓ LAB’s Journey. Creativity, design and innovation!
How to get involved in European cooperation through Erasmus+
The IDEA Project The 10 main principles of a third place, by Belgian, Finnish and French stakeholders
[EPALE PODCAST]: The importance of the role of third places during the health crisis, and the emergence of new educational practices in these places. Territories for learning in France, Italy and Romania.
[ITALY] Urban community gardens: innovative spaces for learning and participation. An Erasmus+ project involving Italy, Austria and France
[FOCUS WEEK] Le Talus, a third place garden in Marseille, reinventing transtions! Interview with Hippolyte Le Bougnec, Administrative and Financial Manager. Erasmus+ mobility programmes were carried out in Italy and Spain.
