Third Place Studio is/was a somewhat experimental rural Community Arts and Cultural Development (CACD) and placemaking practice situated on Wiradjuri Country in Harden-Murrumburrah. It was developed to test the viability of a model first developed during my Executive Master of Arts at the University of Melbourne and later refined through Regional Arts NSW’s Work of Art program and the RALLY Rural Arts-Led Regeneration partnership. The rural foundation of this project will be ending in late 2026.

The studio is informed by sociologist Ray Oldenburg’s concept of the ‘third place’ – informal spaces where people gather, build relationships, and participate in community life.

Public Projects
Projects are developed with and for the community in response to local interests and identified needs. Through a CACD lens, Third Place Studio created locally responsive projects to support creative participation, cultural development, and community connection.

Supported Studio
The Studio provides creative opportunities for artists with disability, supporting choice, agency, and access to artistic participation. The program draws on supported studio principles and aligns with NDIS goals, recognising creative potential for individual wellbeing and professional opportunities.

Creative Community
Supporting activities to strengthen local cultural networks and activate community spaces through participatory arts engagement. The focus is on creating welcoming opportunities for people to learn, share skills, make connections, and contribute to local cultural life. This includes artist accomodation to support visiting artists and workshop hosts.

Arts Advocacy
Arts Advocacy to encourage greater recognition of arts and cultural development within the region through partnerships, teaching, and regional development initiatives. This included teaching with UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture, partnering with Regional Arts NSW, and advocating for local arts and cultural organisations, and returning to my Unimelb alma mater for leadership guest lectures.