Third Coast International Audio Festival

The Third Coast International Audio Festival's mission is to inspire artistic innovation in audio documentary and storytelling, support the maker community and advocate for critical recognition for the field of audio.

Founded in 2000, Third Coast is an independent, community-driven arts organization and a leader in the field of audio. Third Coast fulfills its mission through year-round programming, including:

• The Third Coast Conference, the preeminent gathering in the field of audio, bringing over 800 producers, editors, publishers, and industry leaders annually to Chicago.
• Awards and public curation, particularly the Third Coast / Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition - the most well-respected juried competition for audio storytelling, which annually awards winners across eight categories.
• Celebrated radio programs and podcasts, including: Re:sound, Pocket Conference, Best of the Best. Re:sound airs nationally throughout the year and weekly on WBEZ in Chicago.
• ThirdCoastFestival.org, home to the most richly curated archive of stories and the most comprehensive index of audio producers in the world.
• The Third Coast Radio Residency for underrepresented voices in the field, as well as other equity & community accountability initiatives such as the Conference volunteer program, the newly- formed advisory group, and more.

Third Coast’s programming activates and inspires through connection, innovation, critical perspective, and a radical rethinking of the boundaries of audio storytelling and the context in which this work is made. Third Coast fosters access, equity, and creative expression in an ever-changing artistic landscape and industry.