As the definition of culture has broadened, so have the types of spaces where you can enjoy their creative fruits. Classic theaters and philharmonics still exist, but they do so alongside more fluid counterparts in which a dance piece can be staged one night and a string quartet can play on another. This expansion of use and scope has precipitated a complete reevaluation of venue design, calling into question acoustic properties and lighting as well as the ways both the audience and performers experience the event.

In this issue of SNAP, we examine some changes in the places where we create and consume culture. Our Case Study, “Back on Track”, concerns a disused rail yard in Arles, France, which the Luma Foundation is converting into an arts center, while “Standing Ovation” details the practical and aesthetic decisions made in three performance spaces.