This summer, a new chapter begins for the performing arts at Chautauqua. With the opening of the Roe Green Theater Center, Chautauqua Theater Company enters its first season with a permanent, purpose-built home designed for all phases of the creation of theater — a robust and vibrant complement to our beloved Bratton Theater. This theater center has rehearsal studios, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, a flexible black box theater, a prop shop, offices and — perhaps most delicious — a bar. My colleagues and I are deeply grateful to Roe Green for her transformational gift, and to the many Chautauquans who have also given generously to make this dream a reality. A spirit of possibility is reflected in CTC’s 2026 season —...
Only at Chautauqua does an audience engage in critical conversations on the matters that shape our world in 45 installments across nine weeks. I’m of course talking about our signature Chautauqua Lecture Series, “the 10:45” in the Amphitheater, which I have had the honor and privilege to steward for four cycles now. There is truly no other place — no speakers series, no conference or seminar, no elite mountaintop gathering — that even approaches the breadth and depth of the work we do together each summer. Thank you for your engagement each weekday morning, and for continuing the conversations over lunch and...
Dear Chautauquans, The Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees recently convened for its May meetings, which included a strategic Deep Dive session and the Board’s formal business meeting. Across both days, discussions focused on financial sustainability, attendance trends, governance, grounds stewardship and long-term planning for the Institution. The conversations reflected both the progress Chautauqua has made over the past year and the realities of the challenges ahead. Trustees, leadership and staff spent meaningful time discussing how the Institution can continue to strengthen its financial position while evolving the Chautauqua experience for future generations. Financial Sustainability and Planning Trustees reviewed final audited 2025 financial results and ongoing work related to the...
What makes Chautauqua unlike any other place? In addition to the beautiful place and connected community, people continually tell us that it is the “the MIX” that makes us unique. I find myself reflecting that it is not only the mix of program, but also the intersection of and collaboration between our program pillars — Arts, Education, Religion and Recreation — that creates an “only at Chautauqua” experience for you and yours. I wanted to share a few highlights of upcoming interdisciplinary experiences that will make your time here memorable: Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara will take the Amphitheater stage twice on July 2, beginning with a...
Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), the professional theater company of Chautauqua Institution, is proud to announce its full 2026 season featuring fully produced productions, new play readings and the expansion of its FutureNow program to includes two staged new play workshops. Anchored by two mainstage productions — a CTC commissioned world premiere and the remount of a classic solo piece — the season expands its legacy of developing new work and training the next generation of theater artists. This summer, CTC will present six new works at varying stages of development, offering audiences a unique opportunity to engage with new plays...
Emerging Writer to Give Lecture, Reading of Winning Work on Aug.12 In another record-breaking year for submissions, Chautauqua Institution is delighted to announce “Name, Place, Animal, Thing” by Hassaan Mirza as the winner of the 2026 Chautauqua Janus Prize. “Name, Place, Animal, Thing” was selected from 10 finalists as the winner by this year’s guest judge Deborah Miranda, who described the short story as “an elegiac, exquisitely crafted piece of fiction that encompasses both personal and global grief, as well as the way such grief taxes sanity and a sense of identity.” As the 2026 prize recipient, Mirza will receive $5,000, plus travel and lodging...
When it comes to caring for the health and well-being of the Chautauqua Institution community, having trusted medical partners close by makes all the difference. Just 15 minutes north of campus, Westfield Memorial Hospital plays a vital role in supporting residents, staff, visitors, and neighbors throughout northern Chautauqua County. Westfield Memorial Hospital is a designated Rural Emergency Hospital (REH), a small but essential facility equipped to respond to everything from urgent medical and traumatic emergencies to routine preventive care. For members of the Chautauqua Institution community, the hospital provides a critical safety net, ensuring high-quality care is available when it’s needed most. More Than Emergency Care ...
Chautauqua Institution announced that its 17th annual Buffalo Day will take place on Tuesday, August 25, welcoming residents of the Buffalo region for a full day of engagement, celebration and community centered experiences. The day will feature special programming by IMAGINE Greater Buffalo. Buffalo Day is a longstanding tradition that celebrates the deep and enduring relationship between Buffalo and Chautauqua. Now in its 17th year, the event invites Buffalo‑area residents to experience a wide range of cultural, educational and artistic offerings while enjoying a day designed to encourage exploration, connection and participation across the grounds. In addition to regularly scheduled events, Buffalo Day will feature special programming curated to reflect...
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...
