History

The festival began in 2006 with the desire to connect Seattle to the greater international artistic landscape. Cyrus Khambatta, Artistic Director for Khambatta Dance / The Phffft! Company was intersted to create a platform for collaborations between local and international companies, as his own company had been doing for many years. In 2007, he met Dominick Lucia, who was one of the curators for Artopia as well as working with Seattle Center on its festal events. Mr. Lucia encouraged a move to South Lake Union, an up and coming urban neighborhood. In 2009, the festival initiated a partership with Cornish College of the Arts to bring the accessible, site-specific art and concert performance, as well as a dance education and instruction program together under in one locale. The festival has presented local, national and international artists including work from artists from 25 countries in just five years.

Future

The festival is working with South Lake Union community members and the city to bring its center of operations to that neighborhood. With its combination of retro-industrial and contemporary architecture and rapidly changing face, the area holds the perfect combination of elements for the festival to implant itself in the neighborhood.

The Phffft! Company is a not-for-profit 501c3 registered with federal and state governments and listed with the WA State Charities Bureau. All donations are tax deductible beyond the value of purchase items. Please make checks payable to The Phffft! Company.