Third Stone

Seattle non-profit Third Stone, along with production partner New Rising Sun, successfully relaunched Bumbershoot in 2023 following a three-year hiatus. We embraced our mission as an arts-forward, community-driven program, festival brand, and key contributor to Seattle’s economic revitalization. Since 1973, Bumbershoot has been one of North America’s most influential festivals, occurring on Labor Day weekend at the 74-acre Seattle Center campus. In the post-COVID years of revitalization, events and festivals have emerged as a core strategy to bring people together to rebuild and reimagine. 

Please join us to be a part of the next 50 years, ushering Seattle’s creative economy into its next phase of impact.

With your support, the Bumbershoot festival and community programming from Third Stone will support a more connected, vibrant, and accessible arts community. Seattle is a place of innovation, creativity, and possibility: building on the history of the region and over 50 years of festival stories, we will create opportunities for local artists, makers, and businesses to shine. We seek to restore the Bumbershoot brand via our Four Pillars: Education, Community, Art, and Access, while continuing to honor the essential characteristics of the Bumbershoot legacy.

Part of our reimagining is the groundbreaking Bumbershoot Workforce Development Program (BWDP), designed to remove barriers of entry into the live-music business for young adults from underserved communities. The tuition-free, seven month program teaches critical skills through training and hands-on experiences in event production, sound engineering, marketing, talent buying, and event management. Last year we graduated 15 youth from the BWDP, 80% of whom have already procured work in the industry. We are laying the groundwork for a more equitable and inclusive arts and music scene by supporting the next generation of industry professionals. It is our hope that in 10 years, Bumbershoot will be staffed and run by the program graduates. As we look ahead to 2024 and beyond, our goals are to grow participation, program success rate, and support for young adults launching their careers and dreams in the arts.

Your support will help us present an unforgettable arts experience for our region while providing transformative arts education. This is a fantastic opportunity to help fuel Third Stone’s critical work and support the future of Bumbershoot and our local arts community. 

Mission
To help foster an inclusive, energized, and sustainable arts economy in the Pacific Northwest through youth education, festival, spectacle, and community-driven programming.

Vision
Realign Bumbershoot with Seattle’s changing growth purpose and needs. We collaborate with our community to create a compelling experience that lifts all voices, embraces diverse perspectives, and builds the next generation of arts and music producers.