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...
Chautauqua Institution welcomed five new trustees during the August Board of Trustees meeting. Each brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience in areas that are vital to the Institution — including philanthropy, finance, education, marketing and organizational development. Among the new appointees is Ronn Richard, recently retired CEO of the Cleveland Foundation, where he led transformative growth over two decades. Under his leadership, annual philanthropic giving increased tenfold, from $14 million to more than $145 million and endowed funds more than doubled to $3.2 billion. Richard’s strategic relocation of the Foundation’s headquarters to Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood catalyzed economic...
Dear Chautauquans, The Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees convened for its fall meetings on Nov. 7–8, 2025, at Chautauqua. Over the course of two days, the board engaged in both a strategic “Deep Dive” session and a formal business meeting to review institutional progress, financial performance and long-range priorities that will shape our future. Building a Foundation for Relevance and Resilience The meetings opened with reflections on a successful 2025 summer season that demonstrated clear progress in strengthening patron satisfaction, community relationships and operational stability. Across Chautauqua’s programs, overall patron sentiment has improved, and our partners and supporters have expressed...
Chautauqua Institution’s YouTube channel is introducing a new membership structure designed to strengthen the sustainability of our digital programming and make it easier for viewers to choose their level of access. You know the value of Chautauqua’s programming — and we heard you, time and time again in recent months, when you said that the ability to experience that programming online is important to you. Now, we’re asking for your help in securing the future of this work and the experience of Chautauqua at your fingertips. The easiest way to do that is to join at the sustaining membership level,...
Chautauqua Institution has named Stephine Hunt Interim Michael I. Rudell Director of Literary Arts, starting on Jan. 1, 2026. This comes following her impactful tenure as manager, and then managing director, of literary arts, where she has played a key role in shaping the Institution’s literary programming alongside the outgoing artistic director, Kwame Alexander. As interim director, Hunt will oversee programming of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, the platform that honors at least nine outstanding books of fiction, nonfiction, essays and poetry with community discussions and author presentations every summer — and which celebrates its sesquicentennial in 2028; the...
