153rd Summer Assembly | August 30, 2026 With the conclusion of Chautauqua Institution’s 2026 Summer Assembly, the Closing Three Taps ceremony offered a moment to reflect on the season and look ahead to the work and promise of the years to come. The evening marked the conclusion of Kyle Keogh’s service as Interim Chief Executive and the beginning of a new chapter under Chautauqua’s 19th president, Mark Coolidge Johnson. Keogh reflected on stewardship and the responsibility to pass Chautauqua forward. Board Chair Laurie Branch expressed the community’s gratitude for Keogh’s leadership during a consequential period of transition. Johnson then offered...
Summer 2026 was a landmark season for Chautauqua’s performing and visual arts programs. For the first time since 2008, a newly constructed arts space opened: the Roe Green Theater Center. In its inaugural year, this space was a game-changer for Chautauqua Theater Company by offering state-of-the-art facilities for every stage of the creative process to provide a home for the work of our new FutureNow Playwriting Fellows. And it added some serious fun with the late-night series, boasting comedy and music – and drinks from the lobby bar. With 25 performances in its first year (most of which sold out!), the Michael E. Hill and Peter M. Korns Black Box at the Roe Green Theater Center...
In the spirit of Chautauqua’s summer of gratitude, members of the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees’ Nominating and Governance Committee were honored to participate in a recent community governance conversation at the invitation of the Chautauqua Property Owners Association (CPOA). We are grateful for the opportunity to answer questions about board governance, trustee service, and the board’s role in advancing Chautauqua Institution’s mission. The following are highlights from that conversation. What is the role of the Nominating & Governance Committee? What is the difference between Class A and Class B Trustees? How are Class A and Class B Trustees identified and recommended? ...
I often say I have the best job at Chautauqua. I spend much of my time thinking about how we invite people into this place — how we help them feel welcome and connect them with ideas, faith, art, music and one another. But seasons like this are a reminder that Chautauqua is not defined by what any one of us says about it. Its story becomes real through the people who gather here, fill our venues, join the conversation and make this community what it is. You do not need a census report to know when Chautauqua is busy....
Each season, Chautauqua comes alive because thousands of people believe in its mission — a mission rooted in lifelong learning, the arts, faith, recreation, civil dialogue and community. Every lecture, performance, worship service, classroom experience, exhibit, conversation and gathering is made possible not only through ticket revenue and program fees, but also through the generosity of donors who choose to invest in Chautauqua’s future. Philanthropy is one of the essential ways Chautauquans help sustain the Institution. Each year, donors support Chautauqua through several kinds of gifts. Some gifts are unrestricted, allowing the Institution to direct resources where they are needed most. Others are...
At the heart of Boundless, A Campaign for Chautauqua, is a simple but powerful truth: our mission thrives because of the extraordinary generosity of our donors. Together, thousands of supporters invested in a bold vision for Chautauqua’s future, helping us strengthen and sustain the four pillars that define our purpose and impact. Through their philanthropy, we have enhanced the Chautauqua experience, expanded our role as a convener of meaningful dialogue, advanced the stewardship of Chautauqua Lake, and secured a more vibrant and sustainable future through endowment and strategic investment. As we celebrate the remarkable success of the Boundless campaign, we...
These instructions are for upgrading to the Explore More & Sustain membership level on your computer or laptop, not on any handheld devices. Please note that joining as a new member or making any changes on an Apple device through the YouTube app is subject to additional fees. We recommend using a computer or laptop to manage your membership. Step 1: Go to Chautauqua’s YouTube Channel On your computer, open your internet browser (such as Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox). In the address bar at the top of the screen, type: www.youtube.com/chautauquainstitution Press Enter on your keyboard. Step 2: Make Sure You’re Using the Correct YouTube Account Your membership is connected to the...
As the new Director of Religion and decades-long Chautauquan, I’m pleased to announce the following transitions and enhancements in our program offerings that the department has been working on since last fall. We welcome Sonya Subbayya Sutton as our new Interim Director for Sacred Music. She is an organist, pianist and choral conductor with more than forty years of experience leading sacred music programs in many ecumenical settings. We have all appreciated Joshua Stafford’s extraordinary leadership and music these past six years and wish him well with our deep gratitude. As for worship experiences, we are as committed this season as ever to offering high-quality...
At the heart of Chautauqua’s Schools of Performing and Visual Arts, the newly named Greene Family Commons reimagines one of the Institution’s most essential residential and gathering spaces. Formerly Bellinger Hall, this cherished facility has long served as a summer home for students, artists and patrons — and as a conference and events center throughout the year. Through a transformational investment, the Commons is being revitalized to better reflect the creativity, rigor and community that define the Chautauqua experience. The renovations highlight a significant investment in the Institution’s Schools of Performing and Visual Arts and its year-round programming — directly advancing its...
Designed to bring artists, students, staff and audiences together in one shared creative space, the Roe Green Theater Center marks a major investment in the future of theater at Chautauqua Institution. With the opening of the new Center, a bold new chapter begins for CTC, debuting with FutureNow New Play Lab 1: The Bone Wars at 6 p.m. Friday, July 10. “The opening of the Roe Green Theater Center is a transformative moment for our artistic community,” said Senior Vice President Deborah Sunya Moore. “It will be a place where new ideas are imagined, shaped and shared — made possible by the remarkable generosity and vision...
