Chautauqua Institution today announced a transformational $5.3 million gift from longtime Chautauquans Craig and Cathrine Greene. Their multifaceted commitment, which includes gifts to both Chautauqua Institution and the Chautauqua Foundation, supports a wide range of capital projects and strategic initiatives that are core components of Boundless, A Campaign for Chautauqua. The gift includes support for the planned renovation of Bellinger Hall, an unrestricted contribution to the Chautauqua Fund, support for IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) initiatives, and additional funding to endow dance excellence at Chautauqua through the existing Craig and Cathrine Greene Family Fund and establishment of the Sasha...
Chautauqua Institution today announced the naming of the Bonnefoux McBride Artistic Director of Chautauqua School of Dance in honor of longtime faculty Patricia McBride and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. The naming follows significant gifts made by Chautauquans Jane Foster and Arthur S. Willson, and the redesignation of existing endowment gifts made by the Carnahan-Jackson Foundation, endowing the position in perpetuity. Sasha Janes becomes the inaugural Bonnefoux McBride Artistic Director of Chautauqua School of Dance following his appointment as head of the school last year. “With tremendous thanks to Jane, Arthur and the Carnahan-Jackson Foundation for their generous forethought, we are thrilled to...
See what’s streaming on CHQ Assembly this February! CHQ Assembly’s February 2024 Lineup In February, we’re highlighting Chautauqua’s Forum on Democracy. Chautauqua’s three-day forum on democracy featured authors, contemporary thinkers and scholars engaging in panel discussions, presentations and seminars. Topics were as varied as history, technology, voting rights, literature, and more. Join Chautauqua’s lecturers Trevor Potter, Sayu Bhojwani, David Blight, Michael Waldman, and Christy Vines as they analyze and provide clear, diverse and action-oriented solutions to new paths for our democracy’s future. If you aren’t a member, visit assembly.chq.org to sign up today! In the Spotlight Chautauqua’s Forum on Democracy ...
Impacting Students Through Rhythmic Expression Chautauqua Arts Education kicked off the 2023–2024 school year working with students to tap into their creativity and connect with others through rhythm and sound! The transformative “Feelin’ the Beat” School Residency Program shares the joy of musical expression through drumming with 10 area schools and almost 500 students. Developed in 2014 by Chief Program Officer Deborah Sunya Moore and Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra Principal Percussionist Brian Kushmaul, the original vision was to create an arts education program for students attending special education programs in Erie 2 Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) Educational Centers....
Bush 3rd Graders’ Imagination Takes Center Stage Through CHQ Young Playwrights Project Applause, cheers, and excitement filled the auditorium of Bush Elementary School as the special guests bowed. “Did you enjoy that play?” asks Emily Olcott, one of four teaching artists visiting the school that day from Chautauqua Institution. “YES!” the children replied in unison following the short performance. “Well, great! Because we’re going to perform another play for you except… This one hasn’t been written yet!” Olcott responded to the students’ amazement. “In just a minute, I’m going to go into the audience and get creative ideas and suggestions...
Chautauqua Institution announced today that Senior Vice President & Chief Advancement Officer Geof Follansbee will transition into a new role at the Institution, effective February 1. As Senior Philanthropic Advisor to the President, Follansbee will continue working closely with Chautauqua’s donors and President Michael Hill to advance the Institution’s fundraising priorities as expressed in Boundless, A Campaign for Chautauqua. Current Vice President of Advancement Amy Gardner will transition into the role of Senior Vice President & Chief Advancement Officer, assuming all management responsibilities for the Institution’s fundraising operations. “In my work as a director on the Chautauqua Foundation board and...
Chautauqua Institution is proud to announce that 2023 philanthropic activity totaled more than $36 million. This amount reflects a combination of outright and planned gifts and pledges to Chautauqua Institution and the Chautauqua Foundation. Of the total amount raised, $5.9 million was contributed to the Chautauqua Fund, the Institution’s annual giving program, through one-time and multi-year commitments. Furthermore, the Chautauqua Fund exceeded the Institution’s budgeted goal for 2023. These contributions are a significant component of the $106 million raised to date for Boundless, A Campaign for Chautauqua. “More than 2,800 unique donors contributed to this groundbreaking success, illustrating once again...
The following statement can be attributed to Michael E. Hill, president of Chautauqua Institution: “We applaud Governor Kathy Hochul’s commitment to science-based conservation efforts at Chautauqua Lake, as detailed in today’s State of the State address. Dedicated funding for this project underscores the cultural and ecological importance of Chautauqua Lake and the need to rid the lake of invasive weeds and toxic algae blooms that threaten its future. We look forward to working with state government, local entities and environmental organizations to guarantee that any state funds allocated to this project are utilized to implement “smart lake” technology to measure and...
Dear Friend, There are moments that change the course of history. Driven by the actions of determined individuals, these inflection points move our civilization forward, inspire others to dream, and forever change the landscape of humanity. One hundred fifty years ago, a Methodist bishop and a visionary industrialist united to create a sacred place of respite and sparked a movement that changed the world. A century and a half later, we celebrate our inheritance of their legacy of curiosity and commit to stewarding their mission of expanding our horizons together. It is in this spirit that we embark on...
See what’s streaming on CHQ Assembly this January! CHQ Assembly’s January 2024 Lineup In January, we’re highlighting the 2023 Summer Assembly theme “Infrastructure: Building and Maintaining the Physical, Social and Civic Underpinnings of Society.” Somewhere along the way, infrastructure becomes boring — the awe and joy with which a child greets the weekly garbage truck and hours spent on felt playmats of city streets give way to the “unsexy” business of routine maintenance and iterative improvements, of taxes and policy. Yet nothing remains more critical to our public lives than the evolution and safety of these systems. Join Chautauqua’s lecturers...
