Third Coast Residency by year

The Third Coast Residency at Ragdale is on hiatus.

ABOUT THE THIRD COAST RESIDENCY

Historically, the Third Coast Residency at Ragdale was held annually between 2016 and 2019, offering radio producers the opportunity to focus their creative energy on an audio story or documentary project away from the stress and regular deadlines of their jobs and the distractions and responsibilities of their home life.

Together, 8-10 selected residents spent a week at the Ragdale Foundation, an interdisciplinary artist community in Lake Forest, IL with a five-acre campus and adjoining 50 acres of adjacent prairie. The residents received guidance and feedback from Third Coast Residency mentors Sarah Geis and Nishat Kurwa, as well as support from Third Coast staff. Unique in the world of audio and to Chicago, the Third Coast Residency served producers at a variety of experience levels who came from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in public media and podcasting such as race, ethnicity, economic background, sexual orientation, disability, and geographic location.

Through a mix of independent work time, optional group activities, workshops, support from Third Coast staff and access to a Third Coast-selected editorial mentors who provided one-on-one guidance and editorial sessions, the Residency offered producers an unparalleled opportunity to build their community of peers and to do sustained work on a project that is meaningful to them. As of 2019, Third Coast began to cover 100 percent of the residents’ travel, food, and lodging costs, thanks to the generosity of the Ragdale Foundation and the individuals who support the Third Coast Fund.

To get to know the past Third Coast Residency cohorts, check out the menu to the right and choose the year you’d like to learn more about.