email : Webview : An Update from Third Coast

From Third Coast's Board of Directors
Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Dear Community,

You may have noticed that things have been quiet around here at Third Coast. That’s because as of mid-August, Third Coast is an entirely volunteer-run organization, and to be honest, we’re still catching up to that reality.

If you entered your work into the 2024-2025 Competition, know that it’s still in consideration. We’re currently screening entries: a glorious 463 works from 38 countries in 31 languages, with a total length of 675 hours! It’s going to take longer than usual to award winners, but we hope to be able to do so in style in 2026.

So what got us here? Like many small nonprofits, Third Coast has dealt with a difficult financial reality since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Community support has been a bright spot - like 2024’s successful crowdfunding campaign - but it can’t completely fill the gap left by foundation and government grants that have decreased, delayed, or ended. We were hanging on and making it work until it couldn’t work anymore, at least not with paid staff.

And those staff were wonderful; over more than two decades, they made Third Coast what it is. Third Coast staff created a wealth of knowledge and relationships and care for our audio community – and stewarded an archive of audio treasures.

This year is Third Coast’s 25th birthday. We still believe in supporting the independence, creativity, and bold risk-taking of audio storytellers around the world. We still aim to honor and elevate the medium of audio as an art form. The way we build and interpret our world in sound - and the means by which we do it - matters now more than ever.

Our focus right now is on completing the 2024-2025 Competition. We’re grateful to all of you who have reached out, and given time and money to support Third Coast these past few years.

We ask for your grace as we move through this moment. All forms of support, including words of encouragement and offers of possible collaboration, are welcome. You can reach us at competition@thirdcoastfestival.org.

Thanks for reading, and for being a part of this community,

The Third Coast Board of Directors

Jocelyn Robinson, President
Jenny Asarnow, Vice President
Gail Kim, Secretary and Treasurer
Phyllis Fletcher
Scott Healy
Lane Vanderslice

Illustration by Andrea Miralles (@andreamirallesart) and design by Clara May. Special thanks to Lille Allen.

Third Coast International Audio Festival
Supporting un-bounded artistry, imagination, and visionary craft since 2000.

P.O. Box 410726, Chicago, IL 60618
info@thirdcoastfestival.org | 312-948-4682 | www.thirdcoastfestival.org

Third Coast acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Special thanks to our many individual contributors from around the world — we love you.
Third Coast, founded in 2000 as part of WBEZ in Chicago, is an independent arts organization.

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