June 21–Aug. 24 We are proud to share the themes shaping our discussions for the 2025 Summer Assembly. But first, a thank you to all the brilliant minds who contributed their ideas and feedback to our planning process. Your input has been invaluable, and we can’t wait to bring these themes to life. Brace yourself for an incredible lineup of concerts, classes, performances and thought-provoking lectures — it will be an unforgettable summer! Stay tuned for regular updates, available at 2025.chq.org. The excitement is just beginning! Week One June 21–28 Chautauqua Lecture Theme: Themes of Transformation: Forces Shaping Our Tomorrow Change...
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The Roe Green Foundation Makes Transformational $4.5 Million Commitment to Chautauqua Theater Company
Chautauqua Institution today announced The Roe Green Foundation has made a transformational $4.5 million commitment to advance the completion of the new Roe Green Theater Center, a state-of-the-art, centralized facility for Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC). This gift, which consists of a $3 million outright contribution and a $1.5 million matching challenge gift, comes after a long history of supporting theater arts at Chautauqua, including the New Play Workshop series. The new Roe Green Theater Center will complement Chautauqua’s beloved Bratton Theater, adding a black box/flexible space, rehearsal studios, offices for CTC leadership and other support spaces to ensure that CTC...
At its May quarterly meeting, the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees approved a resolution to achieve a net zero carbon impact goal by the year 2050. The resolution empowers staff to develop a climate action plan for the Institution that: (1) achieves net-zero carbon emissions for Institution operations by no later than 2050; (2) ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state climate laws and policies; (3) sets annual benchmarks that progressively reduce the Institution’s greenhouse gas emissions; (4) funds measures to achieve these benchmarks through sustainable annual budgets; (5) advances measures to improve the long-term climate resilience of the...
Chautauqua Climate Change Initiative’s Third Season of Programs
2024 marks the third full season of programming for the Chautauqua Climate Change Initiative. While not as momentous as the Institution’s 150th anniversary, I think you will find much to love in our diverse exploration of nature, sustainability, environment and climate change. We kick off the season with the fourth annual Chautauqua Lake Water Quality Conference, Saturday, June 22 at the Chautauqua Golf Club. There you will learn from researchers at The Jefferson Project and State University of New York about the work of the Institution and our partners to address harmful algae blooms and ensure a healthful future for...
“The Dream Still Lives” – A Message from Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton For the Commemoration of Juneteenth Day
Dear Friends of Chautauqua, We remember with sadness and hope on this day the significance of “Juneteenth”, when on June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to announce to the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state that they were freed by executive decree. Although President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was intended to free all enslaved persons as of January 1, 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. Thus, it would take two and half years for freedom to finally come to the westernmost Confederate state of Texas. And yet…freedom did...
Plena Libre and Sonia De Los Santos Bring Spanish Language Arts Programming to Chautauqua
Chautauqua Institution today announced headliners Plena Libre on July 17 and Sonia De Los Santos on July 28, bringing bi-lingual programming to Chautauqua Institution’s Amphitheater during its sesquicentennial celebration. Plena Libre’s performance and master class are programmed on Education Wednesday and Sonia De Los Santos’ performance has been programmed on a free Sunday as part of Chautauqua’s Family Entertainment series. “I am thrilled to invite these wonderful performers to Chautauqua this summer,” shared Vice President of Visual and Performing Arts Laura Savia. “These concerts will be a joyous opportunity to hear great music and to celebrate the rich Latin American...
Melody Barnes, David French Named Inaugural Chautauqua Perry Fellows in Democracy
Each Receives $100,000 Grant to Further Democracy Work Chautauqua Institution proudly introduces Melody Barnes and David French as the inaugural recipients of the Chautauqua Perry Fellowship in Democracy. Barnes is the executive director of the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia; French is a widely read opinion columnist at The New York Times. Both will be able to use the distinction and funding afforded by the Perry Fellowship to further democracy-focused personal and professional projects of their choice, in addition to their roles with their home institutions and shared projects with Chautauqua Institution. This announcement comes just...
Chautauqua Theater Company Announces 2024 New Play Workshops
Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), the resident theater company of Chautauqua Institution, today announced its New Play Workshops for the 2024 season. CTC’s audience will have the chance to experience plays at every stage of development, showcasing the work of the country’s most exciting playwrights. From a first new play reading to a staged workshop, a revival of a New Play Workshop, and a commissioned world premiere, the audience will be a part of the process as CTC deepens its long-standing commitment to new work. CTC will present readings of three new play workshops: C.A. Johnson’s Tell Me You’re Dying (the...
Juneteenth celebrations are happening all over the U. S. Our staff and patrons located in Chautauqua County are encouraged to attend local celebrations. Jamestown Juneteenth Events • June 14–16, 2024 Dunkirk 2024 Juneteenth Celebrations Dunkirk’s 28th Annual Juneteenth Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, June 15 from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 16 from noon to 6 p.m. at Memorial Park, Lake Shore Drive West, Dunkirk, NY, 14048. It will feature music, food, African dancing, poetry slam, cornhole tournament, kids’ tent and Gospel. Juneteenth Resources National Juneteenth Resources We are grateful to the National Museum of African American History and...
After a four-year hiatus, the Department of Religion is excited to announce this summer’s Abrahamic Program for Young Adults (APYA) Coordinators. During the 2024 Summer Assembly, Allison Blackwell, Madison Cissell, Mohammed Jibriel and Zackary Steinberg will participate in departmental programs such as the Interfaith Lecture Series, CHQ Dialogues, Mystic Heart Meditation, and the Interfaith Sacred Song Service. Working together, APYA Coordinators will also design and implement a new program based on their mutual interests and vocational goals. Please join us in welcoming this summer’s APYA Coordinators! 2024 Coordinators Allison Blackwell grew up on a farm north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She...