Chautauqua Institution today announced the appointment of #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Kwame Alexander to the role of Michael I. Rudell Artistic Director of Literary Arts. Alexander will also serve as the Inaugural Writer-in-Residence at Chautauqua. A poet, educator, publisher, and Emmy-nominated producer, Alexander is the author of 40 books, including Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir; The Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor-winning picture book The Undefeated, illustrated by Kadir Nelson; Becoming Muhammad Ali, co-authored with James Patterson; and the Newbery Medal-winning middle grade novel, The Crossover, now a television series on Disney+. His books have long...
Chautauqua Institution today announced the appointment of Stephine Hunt to the permanent, full-time role of Manager of Literary Arts. Since 2017, Hunt has served Chautauqua Institution and supported Chautauqua Literary Arts programming as the manager of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) Octagon in a seasonal and part-time capacity. She is a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) in American Studies and a teaching assistant in the Department of Indigenous Studies at the University at Buffalo, as well as an adjunct instructor of English and Ethnic and Gender Studies at SUNY Fredonia. In the role of manager, Hunt will provide coordination and...
Welcome to the fall update on Chautauqua’s Climate Change Initiative (CCI). I hope that many of you were able to visit the Institution in October. The colors were stunning! In this edition we provide a wrap-up of the 2023 Summer Assembly, review important progress in making the Institution more environmentally sustainable, and share some exciting updates about our ongoing investments in understanding and improving Chautauqua Lake’s ecological health. We regularly post program updates by email and online at climate.chq.org. In addition, our Chautauquans for Sustainability group on Facebook now has 273 members. Please join us if you are a Facebook...
You don’t have to be an avid outdoor enthusiast to appreciate the beauty of Slovenia’s magnificent landscape. From the alluring Postojna Caves, and the mountainside marvel that is the Predjama Castle, to the tranquil waters of Lake Bled, and awe-inspiring Julian Alps, your Chautauqua Travel experience will take you on a scenic and surreal tour of Slovenia’s breathtaking countryside. Though these cultural cornerstones are most known for their natural beauty, each is full of untold secrets that lurk just beneath their surface. Baby Dragons of the Postojna Cave Within the dark, damp interior of the Postojna Cave dwells a pale...
Chautauqua Institution’s Board of Trustees elected Stephen F. Messinger, Jill Penrose, and Stephen J. Zenczak to four-year terms at the final meeting of the body’s 2022–23 cycle on Aug. 26. Additionally, members of the Chautauqua Corporation elected Bob W. Obee as the newest of the four trustees selected by Chautauqua property owners at the Corporation’s annual meeting on Aug. 12. The new trustee class officially began its term on Oct. 1. Messinger, of Arlington, Virginia, is the former president of ECG Management Consultants. He grew up in nearby Lakewood, New York, and in 1976 his parents purchased a cottage on...
See what’s streaming on CHQ Assembly this November! CHQ Assembly’s November 2023 Lineup In November, we’re highlighting the 2023 Summer Assembly theme “Can the Center Hold? – A Question for Our Moment.” We can think of “the center” as the middle in political and economic terms: furthest from the edges of society and a place of status quo, moderation and balance. We also use center in reference to a physical space where a community comes together — to worship, to heal, to support one another. And “center” can mean the center of one’s being, the place one seeks in quiet...
There is a place with picturesque gardens, breathtakingly beautiful architecture, thought-provoking lectures, and powerful performances. Where friends and families are invited to live, learn, and laugh on the shores of Chautauqua Lake. So come for the day, or opt. for a summer-long stay; this unforgettable experience can be found in only one place — Chautauqua Institution. Chautauqua is your one-stop vacation experience destination, and this summer, we’re celebrating our 150th anniversary season! Whether you’re visiting as a solo sightseer, or into group travel, we invite you to join the generations of travelers from around the world that visit our historic...
As the leaves take on breathtaking fall hues, the only thing missing from our grounds is you! Come spend the day lakeside, exploring our grounds, quaint shops, delicious dining experiences and exciting autumn events. Get away from your day-to-day and immerse yourself in the season’s beauty at Chautauqua Institution. Explore Our Grounds Every fall, Chautauqua’s 750-acre grounds transform — painted in beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow that capture the stunning autumnal beauty in western New York. Whether you spend the day by Chautauqua Lake, explore one of our four scenic hiking trails or simply take a seasonal stroll, there’s...
Chautauqua Institution today announced the upcoming unveiling of an augmented reality art installation to coincide with its inaugural CHQ Mud Day Saturday, October 7. The installation, created by artists Leslie Calimeri and John Stow, follows a previous interactive installment at the CHQ Trail focused on play and exploration in 2022. Members of the media are invited to attend the public unveiling at 9:45 a.m. on October 7 at the CHQ Trailhead located behind the Chautauqua Golf Club Learning Center, 4731 West Lake Road, Chautauqua, NY. The current phase of Calimeri and Stow’s collaboration builds on their previous work and adds...
See what’s streaming on CHQ Assembly this October! CHQ Assembly’s October 2023 Lineup In October, we’re highlighting the 2023 Summer Assembly theme “Games: A Celebration of Our Most Human Pastimes.” Games, in all their forms, share one common trait: Philosopher Bernard Suits once said that “playing a game is a voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles.” Watch Chautauqua’s lecturers Will Shortz, Scott Simon, Tara VanDerveer, Kristopher Alexander, Rex Lyons, Rabbi Michael Shire, Jaycee Holmes, Joseph C. Cyrulik, Lakisha R. Lockhart, Percival Everett, and Vasudha Narayanan as they explore our capacity for self-created delight and how we rise to the surmountable...
