As we enter a season filled with family, friends, fellowship and reflection, I wanted to take a moment to thank you. This is an extraordinary time for Chautauqua Institution. In the past year, Chautauqua has experienced monumental change and achievement — we’ve successfully closed a nine-figure capital campaign, delivered the most ambitious building project in our modern history, and realized promising growth in long-term attendance. Also in that span, it was my great honor and privilege to begin work as your 18th president. Now we embark upon a bold new shared vision to raise Chautauqua’s prominence in our national conversation....
Regional Community Invited to Five-weekend Series of Holiday Events Beginning Nov. 24 CHAUTAUQUA, N.Y. — Chautauqua Institution today announced the Winter Village at Chautauqua, set to launch Nov. 24 and running on weekends through New Year’s Eve. A new family-oriented initiative, the Winter Village showcases Chautauqua’s picturesque grounds and boutique shops, restaurants, spas and other businesses in a celebration of the joy and fellowship of the holiday season. Highlights include a holiday lighting display across Bestor Plaza, activities for children including visits from Santa, holiday shopping, treat-decorating classes, food and drink, outdoor fire pits and special events every weekend. The...
Chautauqua Institution President Michael E. Hill addressed the annual Nonprofit Day conference hosted on Oct. 24, 2017, by The Nonprofit Partnership at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pennylvania. His remarks as prepared for delivery, with light edits, are provided below. As many of you in the audience know well, Chautauqua Institution is a nonprofit community whose mission is currently exemplified through a nine-week summer season, where we celebrate the best in human values through the arts of nearly every type and manifestation, educational experiences, a wide array of recreation activities and programs, and through interfaith exploration. We’ve been described...
Outgoing Trustees Laura Currie, Ron Kilpatrick Celebrated for Their Contributions Chautauqua community members Michael D. Metzger and Marnette Perry have begun their four-year terms of service on the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees. The pair replaces longtime trustees Laura Pembridge Currie and Ron Kilpatrick, who depart after reaching their term limits. Metzger and Perry were elected by the board at its Aug. 26 meeting on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution; they officially began their terms on Oct. 1. Metzger serves as vice president of finance and administration at the State University of New York at Fredonia, one of Chautauqua County’s...
Dear Chautauqua Institution Property Owners: Following the conclusion of a highly successful season at Chautauqua, I am writing to provide an update on Chautauqua Institution’s efforts to stay informed of developments related to the use of herbicides on Chautauqua Lake. Indeed, the care for our lake is a year-round enterprise. To revisit my July update on lake issues, please click here. Toward the end of the summer, members of Chautauqua Institution leadership team (Executive Vice President and CFO Sebby Baggiano, Vice President for Campus Planning and Operations John Shedd and I) met with Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan and Assemblyman Andrew...
Chautauqua Institution’s Board of Trustees has approved revisions to the policy on the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages. The recommendations were presented to the Board by a working group of the Board of Trustees appointed by Board Chairman James Pardo and chaired by Board Member Judith Claire. The updated and approved policy aligns Chautauqua’s policies with those of similar and competing communities, venues and organizations. The policy also contains controls to honor the mission of Chautauqua Institution and to maintain the signature, family-friendly environment and experience for which the Institution is known. The revised policy enables businesses on the Chautauqua Institution...
Periods of transition often inspire us to reflect on that which we leave behind and the new experience ahead. As we welcome the arrival of the fall season on this day of equal day and night time, I find myself reflecting on that ideal of equality and what it means for our society and the mission of Chautauqua. It conjures memories of our dialogue during the 2017 season on issues of balance, on the nature of fear, on the state of the Supreme Court and so many other inspirational experiences of enlightenment and engagement with the other. It also shades...
Vice President of Performing and Visual Arts Deborah Sunya Moore today announced changes in her areas of responsibility that will further highlight chamber music and arts education at Chautauqua Institution. Through the generosity of Sarah Hagen McWilliams, Chautauqua will present an expanded offering of chamber music under the moniker of Chautauqua Chamber Music, which will be composed of two series, doubling the professional chamber offerings at Chautauqua during its summer seasons: the Guest Artist Series on Monday afternoons and a new Resident Artist Series on Saturday afternoons, both in Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall. Additionally, Chautauqua Chamber Music will include more access...
Three Taps of the Gavel AddressClosing of the 144th Assembly Michael E. Hill18th President of Chautauqua InstitutionAugust 27, 2017 “When I was a kid, ‘sanctuary’ meant only one thing. It was the big room with the stained-glass windows and hard wooden benches where my family worshipped every Sunday. Church attendance was not optional for my sisters and me, so that sanctuary was where I learned to pray — pray that the service would end and God would release me back into the wild. I also learned that not all prayers are answered, no matter how ardent.” These words from Parker...
President Michael Hill’s Remarks for the Charlottesville Vigil I confess to being at a loss today in the wake of what can only be described as an act of homegrown terrorism perpetrated on good people in Charlottesville, Virginia this past weekend. I am at a loss to offer words that might attempt to make sense out of something so senseless. I am at a loss to provide an adequate expression of sympathy to those who continue to feel beaten down by hatred and ignorance and the cancer that is racism. I am at a loss to think of a way...