Chautauqua Institution has been awarded four grants totaling $70,000 through the 2026 New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Awards. The funding reinforces the Institution’s commitment to advancing artistic excellence and supporting artists across disciplines. 

Through NYSCA’s Support for Organizations category, Chautauqua Institution received a $40,000 general operating grant to support the work of the arts across the 2026 season. This funding helps sustain performances, exhibitions and creative development that engage artists and audiences from across New York State and beyond. 

Three additional NYSCA grants, each totaling $10,000, support visiting artists whose work will be developed and presented at Chautauqua Institution in 2026: 

Support for Artists – Theater: 

Playwright Theresa Rebeck received funding for The Elevator, a comedic and unsettling examination of class, collusion, and rebellion in a near-future world that feels increasingly familiar. The work presents a Chekhovian study of the human heart and spirit as society slips into a more surreal reality. 

Support for Artists – Music: 

Composer Jeremy Gill was awarded funding for Ida by Lamplight, a musical work that explores a pivotal moment in the life of writer, teacher, and investigative journalist Ida Tarbell (1857–1944), during her time as managing editor of The Chautauquan. 

Support for Artists – Visual Arts: 

Visual artist Kerri Ammirata received support for a series of paintings that engage themes of ritual, sacred geometry, and Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy.  The work offers a deeply symbolic and contemplative body of work. 

Chautauqua Institution’s awards are part of a broader statewide investment in arts and culture. Through New York State’s continued commitment to the creative sector, NYSCA has awarded $80.9 million in FY 2026 to arts and culture nonprofits and a historic number of individual artists across all 10 regions of the state. 

“New York’s arts and culture sector is a cornerstone of the state’s identity, and we’re making bold investments to ensure it remains strong,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “These grants will lift up artists and organizations in every region, fueling local economies and expanding access to the arts. Congratulations to all the grantees – your talent and dedication help power New York’s future.” 

NYSCA Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “During these challenging times, the New York State Council on the Arts has been a stalwart and innovative funder. These grants will serve artists and organizations in every region and county, fueling our economy and serving our communities. We know this support isn’t just an investment in the arts; it’s an investment in New York’s future.” 

NYSCA Chair Patrick Willingham added, “With the unwavering support of Governor Hochul and our Legislature, the Council is proud to congratulate this year’s grantees, whose collective efforts strengthen and benefit us all.” 

Together, these NYSCA grants enable Chautauqua Institution to sustain its role as a center for artistic creation and dialogue. By supporting both organizational infrastructure and individual artists, the funding advances Chautauqua’s mission to nurture creativity and ensure access to meaningful arts experiences in 2026 and beyond. 

About the New York State Council on the Arts  
The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award over $161 million in FY 2026, serving organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.