Those of us who have the privilege of working at Chautauqua are often entrusted with stories. They are stories filled with gratitude and joy, but also — at times — with hope, uncertainty and quiet concern. They are stories about what this place has meant, what it continues to mean and what people hope it will be for those who come next. One theme we hear again and again from Chautauquans is a question that lingers just beneath the surface: Will my children continue to come here? And will Chautauqua be as meaningful and relevant for them as it has...
Emily Carpenter Appointed Manager of Oliver Archives Center Chautauqua Institution today announced the appointment of Jonathan Schmitz as historian emeritus, an honorary title that recognizes his 24 years of service and impact as the Institution’s archivist and historian. Schmitz becomes just the second individual to be honored with the emeritus title, following his predecessor, Ross Mackenzie. “It is a true honor to recognize Jon’s exemplary quarter-century of service to Chautauqua, our mission and community, with this well-deserved appointment,” said Jordan Steves, the Emily and Richard Smucker Chair for Education, and the last of six heads of the Institution’s Department of...
Veteran U.S. Diplomat and Third-Generation Chautauquan to Lead Historic Institution into Its Next Chapter The Chair of the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees today announced the appointment of Mark Coolidge Johnson as the Institution’s 19th President. A Senior Foreign Service Officer, attorney and third-generation Chautauquan, Johnson brings more than 30 years of distinguished diplomatic service and large-scale operational leadership to one of America’s most enduring centers of education, the arts, religion and recreation. Johnson currently serves as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City — the largest American diplomatic mission in the world — where he...
Chautauqua Literary Arts and the Department of Education at Chautauqua Institution are pleased to announce 10 finalists for the 2026 Chautauqua Janus Prize. To be awarded this summer for the ninth time, the Janus Prize has enjoyed a steady increase in interest among emerging writers, and for 2026 saw another record-breaking number of submissions. This year, 281 writers entered work to be considered for the Janus Prize, an annual award that seeks to celebrate an emerging writer’s single work of short fiction or nonfiction for daring formal and aesthetic innovations that upset and reorder readers’ imaginations. The 10 finalists for the 2026 Janus Prize and their works are: Marguerite Alley, “Dogsbody” Andres Cordoba, “Animals in...
Institution, CSO Reach New Contract Agreement Chautauqua Institution today announced the 2026 season of its resident Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra (CSO), alongside a new three-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the orchestra’s musicians and a shared commitment to raising endowment funds for the orchestra. The agreement, covering 2026 through 2028, maintains musician compensation while supporting the Institution’s focus on long-term financial sustainability and audience development. It was negotiated following the Institution’s fall 2025 announcement of $5.7 million in operating budget expense reductions affecting all departments and activities. Under the new agreement, guaranteed CSO services are reduced from 52 to 46, resulting...
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,”...
