Session on-the-go

Third Places—like libraries and other public spaces—are vital to democracy, yet navigating conflicting values can be challenging. How do we balance free speech vs. community harmony or neutrality vs. advocacy?

In this interactive session, participants share experiences, explore dilemmas, and exchange strategies to strengthen democratic spaces. Participants are invited to share everyday challenges in several consecutive panel discussions – either spontaneously in the “hot seat” or by sending in dilemmas in advance at ahb@aarhus.dk 

Hosts

Julia André
Julia is the Head of Department Age and Demographics at Körber-Stiftung (DE)

Mirko Schoedel
Mirko is the Head of Partners at Life Hamburg (DE) 

Asmund Bertelsen
Asmund is the Democracy Developer and Project Manager at Aarhus Public Libraries (DK)  

Sara Bindeballe
Sara is the Library Facilitator for Democratic Engagement at Aarhus Public Libraries (DK)  

Peter Jørgensen
Peter is the Library Facilitator for Democratic Engagement at Aarhus Public Libraries (DK)  

The session is organized by partners from The Third Places Network.  

The Third Places Network aims to bring together Europe’s most inspiring Third Places, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas and increasing their visibility across Europe. Our mission is to share proven concepts and energize public conversations about the role and potential of Third Places. Through hands-on experiences like learning expeditions and job shadowing, as well as a website serving as a knowledge base, our members spark new ideas and inspire transformation—both within the network and beyond.  

The network includes the following partners: Körber Foundation with KörberHaus (Hamburg, Germany), Dokk1 (Aarhus, Denmark), Life Hamburg (Germany), and Open Amare (The Hague, Netherlands).