Chautauqua Institution today announced the launch of its Family Scholarship, with applications now being accepted for the 2026 Summer Assembly. Designed to make the Chautauqua experience accessible to all, this scholarship invites eligible families to apply for a fully immersive, one‑week residency on the Chautauqua grounds. For 2026, the Family Scholarship will support attendance during Week Eight, taking place August 15–22, 2026, themed: Week Eight: The Future of Food — Climate, Technology, and the Next Agricultural Revolution. Food is universal — it sustains us, connects us, defines us. But how we grow it, share it, and celebrate it is changing fast. As climate pressures mount, technologies advance and...
Joshua Stafford has stepped down as Director of Sacred Music at Chautauqua following several years of service. He began his tenure in 2020 as Director of Sacred Music and the Jared Jacobsen Chair for the Organist. His responsibilities included planning daily worship and leading the Chautauqua Community Choir and Motet Choir, among others. During his time at Chautauqua, the choirs continued to develop in artistic excellence and played a central role in the Institution’s worship life. Stafford also appeared as a soloist with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, contributed to Old First Night celebrations and presented live improvisations for silent films in the Amphitheater. “Joshua Stafford’s leadership of...
Dear Chautauquans, The Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees convened in February with a clear focus: building on recent progress while positioning Chautauqua for long-term sustainability and growth. Over two days of meetings, trustees engaged in both a strategic deep dive session and the Board’s formal business meeting. Together, these conversations centered on financial performance, long-term sustainability, campus stewardship and the evolving needs of our community. Financial Performance and Planning We began with a review of final 2025 financial results. Overall, total revenue finished below budget, driven primarily by lower earned revenue across Gate, Parking and Waterfront, Enterprise operations and Arts...
Last fall, I shared an update with all of you outlining both the successes and lessons learned from our first shoulder‑season concert and our initial attempt to pilot Amphitheater concessions during the Bonnie Raitt show. Today, I’m writing to share how that experience is shaping our plans for 2026. With the Board of Trustees’ approval, we will continue exploring Amphitheater concessions and shoulder‑season concerts this summer, alongside several operational improvements on and around Odland Plaza. This is all with the goal of improving the overall patron experience while remaining thoughtful stewards of the grounds. Continuing the Pilot: Phase 2 Based...
The African American Heritage House (AAHH) at Chautauqua today announced the appointment of New York Times bestselling author, Emmy®-winning producer and founder of the literary nonprofit One Word at a Time, Kwame Alexander, as its 2026 inaugural Distinguished Fellow. AAHH is a nonprofit committed to strengthening Chautauqua Institution by encouraging and welcoming diversity, fostering honest conversations and adding new voices to the programmatic mix. Sean Hawkins was also named director of the AAHH. “Erroll Davis’ vision is for the AAHH to become a cultural center for building a community accessible to all through the eyes of the African American experience,”...
Many people wonder what goes on at Chautauqua during the winter and how our team stays busy. You might be surprised by how much happens in preparation for your return each summer. Here’s a brief look at what’s happening while you’re away from your home away from home. During the winter months, capital projects across the grounds have continued despite snow and cold temperatures. The most visible progress has been at the Greene Family Commons project (formerly Bellinger Hall), where the steel frame was recently assembled, revealing the form of the new entry hall and dining center. The addition will...
For Robert Wilson-Black, Chautauqua has long been a home away from home — and now he returns to step into one of the Institution’s most historic roles. Chautauqua Institution is pleased to announce the appointment of Wilson‑Black as its new Director of Religion. With a deep personal connection to Chautauqua and a proven voice in religion, public life and institutional leadership, he is poised to drive transformative change. Wilson‑Black joins the Institution following decades of leadership at the intersection of faith, higher education, public discourse and social change. A religion scholar, public speaker, administrator, and convener, he has served as...
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...
Dear Chautauquans, Happy New Year! It’s 2026, and my colleagues and I are counting down to the Summer Assembly; I hope that you are too. I wanted to share a bit about our planning process and some of the exciting programming already set for the summer. The Performing and Visual Arts team (PAVA) consists of dedicated administrators and visionary artistic directors who dream and plan year-round to ensure that you, our students, and the Western New York community have enriching and unforgettable encounters with the arts at Chautauqua. This time of year, we have applications streaming in for our school of music, opera company young artists program, school of dance, theatre conservatory and school of visual arts. Across all programs, we receive over 2,400 applications! I am so...
At Chautauqua, every gate pass represents a meaningful investment in the full experience of the season. To ensure fairness for all patrons, improve ease of entry, and align with best practices across peer cultural institutions, we are introducing several updates for 2026. These changes also help us maintain accurate attendance information, which supports staffing, safety and program planning. Below is a summary of what’s changing and what it means for you. Digital Tickets and Passes Beginning in 2026, Chautauqua will no longer issue PDF gate passes or tickets. This change helps reduce duplication and unauthorized sharing and supports faster, more reliable entry. Available formats will include: Please note that...
