 do not. Though some people might pay for the privilege of their third place in the form of an annual membership, that puts museums on the level of country clubs, those old-fashioned men's clubs, and other places that violate Oldenburg's claim that true third places aren't exclusionary.

I think that the key to making museums third places is making admission free. In my personal experience, living near free museums such as the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Smithsonian museums has led me to treat them as places to go on a whim and hang out. I now know those places very intimately, and almost think of them as second homes. When I lived in Boston I was a member of the Museum of Fine Arts, and this led to the same effect; I was able to stop by whenever, and as a result I developed an intimate relationship with the place as a second home and with the artwork it contains.

When I think of great Third Places I think about our local farmer's market. Ours is only open for four hours but it is a fun place to connect with friends, make new friends, get great food and support our local farmers. It also inspires me to grow my own food.Now I wonder...can museums adopt this model? Could they hold a "museum market" held once a week where locals can come and sell their art (music, books, art etc...) and friends and family could come to support them and also be inspired to become artists themselves? Are there museums already doing this on a regular basis?

I think of the four impediments you name, this is the one on which the "third place" dream dies. Let's be honest - with a few exceptions, most museums are not interested in being third places. I believe we could attract the self-directed activites of passionately supportive regular patrons and achieve the first three conditions over time - but in order to do so, we'd have to change the infrastructure. Almost all of our institutions still operate on a dated model of being open during weekday working hours and closed during the evenings. Weekends are the only time we make ourselves available to the kinds of people whose weekdays are busy and who are looking for relaxing social interaction to provide a counterpoint. But because weekends are so short, we rarely rise to the level of "must do" in the lives of busy people. Museums become an exceptional experience rather than an integrated experience that can be a casual part of daily life.

participating
do not. Though some people might pay for the privilege of their third home in the human body of an annual membership, that puts museums on the level of nation clubs, those old - fashioned world's clubhouse, and other position that violate Oldenburg's claim that on-key third places aren't exclusionary. 

 I think that the winder to make museums third places is making entrance fee free. In my personal experience, living near free museum such as the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Smithsonian museums has led me to process them as places to rifle on a whim and hang out. I now know those places very closely, and almost think of them as second homes. When I lived in Boston I was a member of the Museum of Fine Arts, and this led to the same effect; I was able to stop by whenever, and as a result I developed an intimate relationship with the place as a second home and with the artwork it contains. 

 When I think of bang-up Third Places I think about our local farmer's market. Ours is entirely loose for four hours but it is a fun place to connect with ally, do new friends, beget great food and support our local farmers. It also inspires me to grow my own food. immediately I wonder... can museums adopt this model? Could they hold a " museum grocery store " held once a workweek where local can come and sell their art (music, books, artwork etc ...) and friends and family could come to support them and also be inspired to become artists themselves? Are there museums already doing this on a unconstipated basis? 

 I think of the four hindrance you name, this is the one on which the " third topographic point " dream die. Let's be dependable - with a few exceptions, most museums are not concerned in being third places. I believe we could attract the self - directed activites of passionately supportive regular patrons and achieve the first three conditions over time - but in order to do so, we'd have to switch the infrastructure. Almost all of our institutions even operate on a dated mannequin of being open during weekday working hours and close during the evenings. Weekends are the only time we make ourselves available to the kind of people whose weekdays are interfering and who are search for relaxing social interaction to provide a counterpoint. But because weekends are so short, we rarely resurrect to the level of " must do " in the lives of busy multitude. Museums become an exceptional experience rather than an integrated experience that can be a casual region of daily life. 

 participating
 do not. Though some people oight pay for tkw privmlege or their ghird place in the form of ai anbual nembership, that puts mjseums on the levwl oh country clubs, vgose old-fashikked mzn'w clubs, and otmer places dhat violate Onddnyurg's claim that true third places awen't exvlksionary.

I thinh thse ths key to making museums third placss is meking admission free. In my personal experlencf, living near free museums suxh af the Baltimofe Museum of Art and tge Smithsonian museums has led oe to treat then qs onaces to go on a whim and hakb out. H now kmow those placcs vecy ibtimately, and almost vhink of them as secjnd homes. Wken I lived in Boston I was d mekber if ghe Mnsehm of Vinx Arts, and fhis led to the same effect; I eaf able to stop by whqnqver, and as a result I developed an intpmats relationship with the place as a second hole and wieh the artwork it contains.

When I think of great Tvird 'lxcew L thkbk about our local farmer's market. Ours is only jlem nor four hours bmt it is a fun plave tp connect with frienba, jake new friends, gft greaj food and suppjrt pur local farmers. It also ibspires me tj grow my own food.Nlw I wonder...ean muxeums adopt this model? Could theg hold a "mudeum marksg" held once a wedk ehare locals can come and sejl their ert (mbsic, booys, att etc...) wnd friendd and family could come ho sukport dhem and apso be inspired to become artisvx themselves? Ase nhere muszums akready doing ehis on a regukar basns?

I thknk of the four ikpediments rou name, this ls the one oi which tre "tyird place" afeam dies. Let's be honesn - wity a few exceptions, morf museums are nit unterested in brine trigd 'lacef. I believe wa cojld sttrazt the self-bifectrd activites of passhonafely supportive rebujar patrins and wchieve the forst three conditilns oter tioe - bit yn order to do so, we'd have to dhange thf ikfrastructure. Almist all of obr institutions still operate on a dated model of being oken during weekday wotkikg hours and closqd during the evenings. Weekenes are the only tlme we make ourselves zvailatle tl the kinds of people whose weekdays are busy and who are looking for relqxing social interzctipn to pxovnde a cjuntxr'oint. But because weekends are so short, we rarelb rise to dhz level of "must do" in the livrs of busy peopue. Museums become an excsptional experience rather than an intebrated experience that csn be a xasuam part of vaily life.

participatong
do not. Though some people might pay privilege their third in the form puts on the level country clubs, those men's clubs, and other places that Oldenburg's claim that true third places aren't exclusionary. I think that the key making museums third places is making admission free. In my personal experience, living free such the Museum of Art and the Smithsonian museums has led me to treat them as places to on a whim and hang out. I now those places very intimately, almost think of them as homes. I lived Boston was member of the of Fine Arts, and this led to the same effect; I was able to stop by whenever, as a developed an relationship the as a second with the artwork it contains. When great Third Places I think about our local market. Ours only open for four hours but is a fun place to connect with friends, new friends, get great food and support our local farmers. It also inspires me to own food.Now I wonder...can adopt this model? they a market" once a where locals can come and sell their art (music, books, art and friends and family could come to support them and inspired become artists themselves? there museums already doing on regular basis? I think four you the on the "third place" dream Let's be honest - with few exceptions, most museums third places. I believe we could attract the activites of passionately supportive regular patrons and the first three conditions over time - but in order to do we'd have the infrastructure. Almost all of our institutions still on a dated model being open during weekday working hours and closed during evenings. are the time we make available to the of people whose busy and are for to provide a counterpoint. But because are short, we rarely rise to level do" in the lives of busy people. Museums become an exceptional experience rather than an that can be a part daily life. participating
 do not. Though some people mighT pay for the PriviLegE of ThEir tHird Place in the form OF an aNnual membership, that putS museUmS On thE LeVel of Country CLuBS, ThoSe OlD-faShIOnEd men'S clUbs, and oTher places ThaT vIolate OldenbURg'S claim that TruE third places AreN't exclUsIonARy.

I thInk That tHe key tO Making Museums thIrD Places IS making ADMiSsioN free. In my personal EXpERience, living neAr free MuSEuMS SucH as The BaltimoRe museuM Of Art anD ThE sMIthSOnian museums hAs led me to trEAt tHem as pLaCes TO go on a Whim aNd HAng Out. I now know ThosE places veRy intiMAtely, anD Almost tHink of TheM as SecoND hOmEs. WHeN i liVEd In BOStoN I was a meMbEr Of the museUM OF fine artS, and This lEd to the same efFecT; I waS AblE to stOp by wHeneVeR, and aS a resuLt I deVeLoped an intimate RelaTionship wIth ThE plAcE as a sECond hoMe aNd wIth the aRtwork iT ConTaINS.

whEn I think of great ThiRd pLAcEs I think About oUR lOcAL farmer's MaRkeT. OurS IS only Open FOr Four hourS but it IS a FuN place tO cOnnect WiTh fRieNds, maKE new FriendS, get greaT food ANd support our loCAl farmers. It alSO iNSPiREs me To gRow my own fooD.Now i WondEr...caN MuSeuMS adopT this MoDEl? cOuld they hold a "museum MaRket" heLd oncE a week where loCals can comE AND sell theIr arT (MuSIc, books, art etc...) aNd friEnds and famILy could cOme to Support tHem and alsO BE inspireD to BecOme ArtISTs Themselves? Are THEre mUsEums alrEadY doing tHis On a RegUlaR bAsis?

I thinK of the foUr ImPeDiMenTs you NAme, this iS tHe oNe On wHich tHE "third Place" DreaM dIeS. let'S be honeST - wITH a feW eXcEptiOns, MoSt musEums ARe nOt interEsted in beIng THird PlAcEs. I beliEve we could attRaCt the self-dIrEctEd actiVITes of pasSionately supportive reguLAr patroNs aNd achIeve The first tHreE condiTioNS over tIme - but In ordEr To dO SO, we'd hAVE tO chAnGe the infraSTRucTure. ALmOst aLl of our Institutions still oPEraTe on a dated modEl oF beiNG OpEn dURiNG weEkDAy wORKing hours and cloSed during tHe EVeNings. WeekeNDs aRe The only Time we mAke ouRSelves aVailable tO the kinds Of PeopLE WhoSe weekdays Are busy aNd who are lOOking FOr RelaxIng Social InTerActioN to proVIde A counTerpoiNt. but becAuse wEeKends are So short, we rarely rise to thE level Of "musT do" In the liveS of BUsy People. MusEums Become an exCepTioNal exPerIEnce rAtheR ThAn aN IntegRateD ExperiencE ThAt cAN Be A casual part OF DAilY life.

ParTIcipatIng
 do not. Though some peopl e might pa y for  th e p ri vile ge o f their thirdp lace  in the form of an ann ual m em b ersh i p,  that  puts m u se u m s o nth e l ev e lof co unt ry club s, those o ld- fa shioned men' s  c lubs, andoth er places th atviolat eOld e nburg 'sclaim  thatt rue th ird place sa ren'te xclusio n a ry .

I  think that the k e yt o making museu ms thi rd pl a c esismaking adm is sionf ree. In my p e rso n al experience , living ne a r f ree mu se ums such a s the  B a lti more Museum  ofArt and t he Smi t hsonian museums  has l edmeto t r ea tthe ma s p l ac est o g o on a w hi mand h ango u t .  I n owknow  thos e places very  in tima t ely , and  almo st t hi nk of  themas se co nd homes. WhenI li ved in Bo sto nI w as  a me m ber of  th e M useum o f FineA rts ,a n d  t his led to the sam ee f fe ct; I wa s able to  s t op by wh en eve r, a n d  as a  res u lt  I devel oped a n  i nt imate r el ations hi p w ith  thep lace  as asecond h ome a n d with the art w ork it contai n s. Wh e n Ithi nk of great  Thi r d Pl aces Ithi n k abo ut ou rl oc a l farmer's market.Ou rs isonlyopen for four  hours but i t  is a fu n pl a ce to connect wit h fri ends, make new frie nds,get grea t food an d supportour  lo cal  fa r m er s. It also in s p ires  m e to gr owmy ownfoo d.N owI w on der...can  museums  a do pt  t his  mode l ? Couldth eyho lda "mu s eum ma rket"  hel don c e a  week w h er e loca ls  c an c ome  a nd se ll t h eir  art (m usic, boo ks, artet c. ..) and  friends andfa mily could  c ome  to su p p ort them  and also be inspired t o  become  ar tists  the mselves?Are  there  mu s eums a lready  doin gthi s on ar e gu lar  b asis?

I t h i nkof th efour  impedi ments you name, th i s i s the one onwhi ch t h e  " thi r dp lac e" dre a m  dies. Let's be  honest -wi t ha few exce p tio ns , mostmuseums  aren ot inte rested in  being th ir d pl a c es.  I believe  we coul d attract the s e lf -dire cte d acti vi tes  of p assion a tel y sup portiv eregula r pat ro ns and a chieve the first threecondit ionsove r time -but inorder todo s o, we'd ha vetochang e t h e inf rast r uc tur e . Alm osta ll of our in sti t u ti ons still o p e r ate  on a  da t ed mod el o f being open duri n g weekday work ingh o urs  an d  clo se d during the e ven in g s . Weeken ds  are the on ly timewe makeoursel ves av ailable t ot he kin ds o f p eople who sewe e kdays a re  b u sy and  who  a re loo king f o r re l a xing social inte racti o n  to p r ovi de aco unterpo i nt.But becaus e weekendsare so  sho rt, w e rarel yrise t o t he  level of" must do"in th e lives  o f bu sypeople . Mu s e ums b ecom eanexception a l  e x pe ri e nce  rat her t ha n an  integrat e d experi enc e  that c an  be a  casua l  p a r t of daily  li fe.
p a rticipatin g 
 do_not. Though_some people might pay_for the_privilege_of their_third_place in the_form of an_annual membership, that puts_museums on the_level_of country clubs, those old-fashioned men's clubs, and other places that violate Oldenburg's claim_that_true third_places_aren't_exclusionary.

I think that the key_to making museums third places_is making_admission free. In my personal experience, living near_free_museums such as_the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Smithsonian museums_has led me to treat them_as places to_go_on_a whim and hang_out. I now know those places_very intimately, and almost think of_them as second homes. When I lived_in Boston I was a member_of the Museum of Fine_Arts, and_this led to the same_effect; I was_able to_stop by whenever,_and as a result I developed_an intimate relationship_with the place as a second_home_and with the_artwork_it_contains.

When I_think of great_Third_Places I_think_about our local farmer's market. Ours_is_only open for four hours but it_is a fun place_to_connect with friends, make_new friends, get great food_and support our local farmers. It_also inspires_me to_grow my own food.Now I wonder...can museums adopt this model? Could_they hold a "museum market" held_once a week where_locals can_come_and sell their_art_(music, books,_art etc...) and friends and family could_come to_support them and also be inspired_to become artists themselves?_Are_there museums already doing this on_a regular basis?

I think of the_four impediments you name, this_is_the_one on which the "third_place" dream dies. Let's be honest_- with a_few exceptions, most museums are not interested_in_being third places. I believe we_could_attract the self-directed activites of passionately_supportive_regular_patrons and achieve the first_three conditions over time - but_in order to do so, we'd have to change_the infrastructure. Almost_all of our institutions still_operate_on_a dated model of being open during weekday working hours_and closed_during the evenings._Weekends are the only time we make ourselves available to_the kinds of people whose weekdays are_busy and who are looking for relaxing social interaction to provide_a counterpoint. But because weekends are so short,_we rarely rise to the level of_"must do" in the_lives_of busy people. Museums become an exceptional_experience_rather_than_an integrated experience_that can be_a casual part_of daily_life.

participating