What do we need third spaces for?

At Connecting Narratives for Change 2026, we're exploring what third spaces make possible — and what it really takes to start and sustain them. These are conversations we want to have with citizens, communities, and the practitioners who lead these spaces.

So, join us at Common Ground Civic Centre, Aug–Dec 2026, to learn, connect and reflect alongside people asking the same questions.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAMME

Connecting Narratives for Change is Common Ground's annual community festival for anyone who wants to explore how things can be different in Singapore – not just community builders or change-makers – but anyone who cares and wants to do something about it.

Each year, we gather around a shared question.
No answers. Just a space to figure it out together.

In 2026, our question is: What do we need third spaces for?

Third spaces are the places that aren't home and aren't work – they are the community centres, the community gardens, the coffee shops, the book stores, and the impact hubs where people come together around something they share.

In Singapore, that kind of physical space is rare and special. Land is scarce, and the places that exist purely to bring people together are easy to overlook and hard to sustain.

That's the conversation we want to have at CNFC26, and we have two ways for you to join in.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

CNFC26 runs from August to December 2026 across two formats – a one-day public festival and a series of smaller sessions for impact practitioners. Both explore the same question, from different angles and at different points in the journey.

Here are two ways to participate:

CNFC CIRCLES

A series of four sessions in August, September, November and December for impact practitioners — programme designers, founders of ground-ups initiatives, community builders, funders, and anyone who's made it their work to make Singapore a little better.
The Circles are a smaller and more intimate session, focused on what it takes to start and sustain practitioner-led third spaces in Singapore.
Each session is hosted with a practitioner from an impact hub in Singapore, weighing in on the conversation as someone knee-deep in the work.
Come for one, or come for all four. Either way, we’ll get to explore a new perspective, a connection, or an idea to try in your own work.
If you work in:
- social impact,
- social services,
- community development,
- philanthropy,
- advocacy,
- or anywhere in between
… and you're curious about how practitioner-led third spaces start and sustain, CNFC Circles are for you!

EXPLORE CNFC CIRCLES

CNFC FESTIVAL

A one-day public festival on 17 Oct 2026 for anyone who wants to explore what third spaces make possible – for citizens, for communities, and for the practitioners who build them.
The day is structured around learning, connection, and reflection. You'll hear from people doing interesting work, meet others who are asking similar questions, and have space to figure out what any of it means for you.
You might leave with a new friend, a community you didn't know you were looking for, or just a question worth pursuing. Either way, it's a start!
We’ll explore themes ranging from rest and adventure, children and their village of care, social entrepreneurship, all the way to arts and culture.
If you're curious about:
- what third spaces make possible, and
- want to hear how people from different communities, sectors, and walks of life are answering that question
… then CNFC Festival is for you!

MORE INFO SOON

Please note: The dates of Circles #2, #3, #4 will be announced soon. Stay tuned!

Our partners and collaborators

CNFC26 is co-created with organisations and practitioners who bring their own communities, perspectives, and expertise to the programme – spanning sustainability, advocacy, special needs, data storytelling, and more.

More partners and collaborators will be announced soon!