Arts Education
Chautauqua Institution is committed to providing meaningful arts learning experiences in Chautauqua County schools and beyond. Chautauqua promotes excellence and creativity in engagement with the performing, visual and literary arts in grades Pre-K through 12. These programs cultivate relationships with educators and schools to provide enriching opportunities that demonstrate cutting-edge best practices in arts education.
NEW – in 2022–23, the programs listed below will be funded in part through the Erie 2 BOCES Arts in Education Co-Ser program. Contact Suzanne Fassett-Wright at sfassettwright@chq.org for details about fee structure and program availability.
• Young Playwrights Project
• School Residencies
• Opera in the Schools
• Explore Chautauqua Field Trips
Young Playwrights Project
Chautauqua Institution Arts Education and the Chautauqua Theater Company is proud to present an interactive, three-part playwriting experience for students in grades 3 and 4.
School Residencies
Two 10-visit residency programs feature arts integrated learning strategies. “Sing Me a Story” integrates ELA and music learning through story and song, and “Feelin’ the Beat” integrates social emotional and music learning through drumming.
Opera in the Schools
Students get up-close and personal with Chautauqua Opera Company Young Artists as they sing and make music with students through an in-class lesson for select classes and a performance of a kid-friendly, 45-minute opera for the entire student body.
Professional Development for Teachers
Chautauqua Institution is proud to serve as a year-round resource for arts-integrated teacher training and development, bringing best-practice educational techniques to classroom teachers to present the arts to students as part of their daily classroom activities.
Battle of the Books
Culminating in a lively academic competition, Battle of the Books improves reading comprehension, builds vocabulary, and teaches teamwork and good sportsmanship for Chautauqua County fifth-graders.
“Explore Chautauqua” Field Trips
Students will enjoy a day-long experience that explores key elements of what Chautauqua Institution has to offer, comprised of a variety of the following possibilities, and more.
Chautauqua Music Camps
Partner Programs
Chautauqua is proud to collaborate with nationally regarded organizations and teaching artists to offer quality enrichment resources to schools.
Generous support for these programs has been provided by:
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold E. Bellowe
The Carnahan-Jackson Foundation
Chautauqua Opera Guild
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
Court Family Endowment
Cummins, Inc. JEP
The Winifred C. Dibert Foundation, Inc.
The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation
Davis and Jean Fulkerson
Mimi and Jim Gallo
The Goldin Foundation for Excellence in Education
Mary and Pat Grant
Greater Washington Community Foundation
Kathryn Hogan
The Kindness Foundation
David and Nancy Moore
Iris and Mort* November and Rosemary and Richard* Corcoran
The John R. Oishei Foundation
Paul and Marnette Perry
Gloria Plevin
Mark and Patt Suwyn
Cynthia and Steve Toth
The Western New York Foundation
*Deceased