Nigeria has been in the midst of a new cultural renaissance for the last few years. From visual artists to musicians, filmmakers, writers, and thinkers, the country is alive with creative minds pushing beyond several odds to attempt seemingly impossible things, particularly within the strictures of their society. These constraints are real and formidable, and without care, creative energy can easily dim or disappear. But it is precisely in these conditions that art becomes essential. 

It is this urgent work of building spaces that protect, provoke, and sustain creative thought that Nelson C.J. embraced when he created A Third Space, a “multidisciplinary art space,” he describes to NATIVE Mag as one “where people could simply be while also being inspired to think, create, [and] commune, in meaningful and radical ways.”

Since its inception in 2024, A.T.S. has taken shape as a deeply immersive monthly experiential platform organised to spark fresh perspectives on how we engage with art across different formats: visual art, literature, music, film, and mixed media. True to Nelson’s claim, its programming adopts a deliberately multidisciplinary approach, combining film screenings, album listening sessions, poetry readings, art exhibitions, and craft talks. Over time, the space has welcomed an expansive range of creatives—from Falana, Lady Donli, and Show Dem Camp to Wana Wana, Dika Ofoma, Yagazie Emezi, Fiyin Koko, Nicole Asinugo, Josh Ike Egesi, and Myles Igwebuike—attesting to the breadth and dynamism of contemporary Nigerian artistry.

Conceived as a meeting point for community and experimental practice, A Third Space enters a scene dense with talent but thin on intentional gathering. It is not only exhilarating to witness what young people can do with their minds, but also essential to have a space where those minds can be nurtured. The project also arrives amid wider conversations about shrinking patience for nuance in public life. As founder and lead curator, Nelson C.J.’s wager is that creatives need room to think and test. Hence, A Third Space positions itself as a cultural in-between, built on the premise that art can help people make sense of their shared reality.

In a conversation with NATIVE, Nelson C.J. speaks about creating A.T.S. for the intellectually curious and about his desire for A Third Space to remain responsive to its community.

Why did you feel it was necessary to create A Third Space?

A Third Space began as an idea in early 2024. At the time, I was looking around me and seeing the ways communal gatherings were disintegrating. At the same time, I was also interested in experimental and alternative art forms.  I was curious to see how these two elements, community and disobedient artistic practices, might intersect. That’s what birthed A Third Space. It felt like the right time to set up a multidisciplinary art space where people could simply be while also being inspired to think, create, and commune in meaningful and radical ways.  So, A Third Space began as a result of those two needs, which felt both personal and necessary for the contemporary Nigerian culture ecosystem.

Who is A Third Space really for?

The curious, the culturally engaged, and the people seeking a sense of belonging. Because we curate programmes and experiences along different disciplines and interests, A Third Space truly is for everyone. All our programmes, while driven by intellectual curiosity and a willingness to be experimental, are also designed to be understood and to speak to issues we all feel and think about as humans. In that way, even if you’re not an artist and you’re simply curious about how the world works, how other people are thinking about culturally timely conversations, or how other people are using art to make sense of our collective existence, there’s always a seat for you at A Third Space.

Are there ways in which A Third Space has become an incubator for emerging talent or ideas?

Yes absolutely. We make it a point to work with both emerging and established artists. We believe that a transference of ideas needs to be constantly occurring across generations. So when we have our craft talks, we will typically invite emerging artists to join the panel or even host it. We have had curators still in the infancy of their careers develop programmes with us, and more than anything, we always make sure to highlight whether, through commissions or program inclusions, artists who are emerging and are working in art practices that are uncommon/have limited compatibility with traditional art spaces.

What’s your long‑term vision for it, as a cultural institution within Nigeria and beyond?

Our goal is to continue to be a strong and reliable community where people can truly engage in memorable experiences through art and culture. We would love to expand physically, work with more artists, curate more unexpected programs, and of course, open up to other parts of the continent. We want to be continually useful in serving the desire for community, originality, and radical thinking.