Citiestobe Photo Award for all Artists and Collectives of any Nationality

Citiestobe Photo Award for all Artists and Collectives of any Nationality ; In 1989, urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg introduced the notion of the third place: informal, open, and egalitarian spaces of social interaction that are neither home nor workplace. These are the settings where encounters and experiences that make urban life fascinating and enriching unfold — where routine is disrupted and the unexpected emerges.

From the ancient Greek agora to theatres, parks, bars, libraries, squares, and cafés, third places have long embodied this condition. They enable the exchange of knowledge and opinions, foster conversation and attentive listening, and cultivate empathy, tolerance, and coexistence. They are places of inclusion, community, belonging, and democracy.

In today’s hyper‑digitalized era, algorithms curate places, filter experiences, and segment conversations. Against a backdrop of conflict, polarization, and pressure on collective spaces, questions arise: