What is Chautauqua Institution?

Many of the visitors who return to Chautauqua year after year describe it as an experience rather than a vacation -- a place for renewal -- a learning vacation. The Chautauqua Institution was founded on the belief that everyone "has a right to be all that he can be -- to know all that he can know." The experiences come in many forms. A dramatic lakeside setting and the beauty of its National Historic Landmark architecture (it was designated a National Historic Landmark June 30, 1989) make the Chautauqua Institution a thriving community where visitors come to find intellectual and spiritual growth and renewal.

Chautauqua Institution is made up of 4 major areas: Arts, Education, Religion, & Recreation. For more information please visit www.ciweb.org or follow the links below.

 

Arts:

Chamber Music -
The philosophy of chamber music at Chautauqua is that it is "an ensemble that usually has one musician on a part, without conductor." This provides a diversity of both instrumental and vocal music from medieval chant to Brahms to jazz to the contemporary music of our time.

Dance -
Chautauqua Ballet is distinguished by its strong Balanchine influence. In addition to masterpieces in classical ballet, it stages modern dance and contemporary ballet. The company presents four performances in Chautauqua's Amphitheater during its eight-week season, with an average of ten world premieres by guest and resident choreographers.

Family Entertainment Series -
Chautauqua's Family Entertainment Series features performances on some Tuesday evenings (free) in Smith-Wilkes Hall and some Thursday evenings (for a fee) in the Amphitheater.

Fine & Performing Arts Schools -
A summer of intensive study is offered to students on the verge of professional careers who audition for admittance into Chautauqua's schools of fine and performing arts.

Opera -
This year marks the 77th anniversary of both the Chautauqua Opera and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. In celebration of Chautauqua's religious foundation, the theme for the season is "Opera and the Almighty." All productions have stories featuring the major Western faiths.

Popular Entertainment -
Popular entertainers are featured, attracting crowds to our 5000-seat, open-air Amphitheater, which fills on a first-come (festival seating) basis.

Symphony -
The repertoire for 2006 promises an inspiring mix with wonderful soloists, some old friends, and some new works in our 75th anniversary season.

Theater -
Currently celebrating its 23rd season, the Chautauqua Conservatory Theater Company (CCTC) provides young actors with a unique opportunity to develop their craft under the guidance of directors, master teachers and guest artists.

Visual Arts -
The Chautauqua Center for the Visual Arts exhibits artists of note from the region and around the country. The CCVA is a forum for high quality traditional and contemporary visual art. Showing a range of subjects and mediums; painting, photography, sculpture, installation and video, among others.

 

Education:

55+ / Elderhostel -
The Chautauqua Institution's 55+ programs were founded in 1974 by Helen Overs and remain an important component of the Chautauqua experience. Each program presents a topic through lecture, discussion, films or other appropriate means.

CLSC Book Club -
To further his Chautauqua ideal and to disseminate it beyond the physical confines of the Chautauqua Institution, cofounder Bishop John Heyl Vincent conceived the idea of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC), and founded it in 1878, four years after the founding of the Institution.

Continuing Education -
Special studies courses offer a wide range of interests for all ages. Classes include literature and writing, business and finance, foreign languages, personal development, education, handcrafts, art, dance and music.

Fine & Performing Arts Schools -
A summer of intensive study is offered to students on the verge of professional careers who audition for admittance into Chautauqua's schools of fine and performing arts.

Lectures -
Each weekday during the Chautauqua season (June 23-August 26, 2007) at 10:45 a.m., the Amphitheater stage becomes a platform for distinguished scientists, authors, educators and other experts in such fields as national and international affairs, arts and humanities, business and the environment.

Library -
Smith Memorial Library, in its elegant Georgian building at the south end of Bestor Plaza, enriches the lives of its users year round with a wide variety of books, audio-visuals, programs, and services, including high speed Internet access.

Writers' Center -
The Writers' Center at Chautauqua is a lively community of writers at all levels of development who cultivate the courage, craft and vision necessary to grow as artists under the tutelage of nationally recognized authors.

 

Religion:

The Abrahamic Program -
Chautauqua, from its beginning, has described itself as committed to lifelong learning. Chautauqua's founders believed that sound education was the foundation of democracy. In this spirit, during each season since 2000 Chautauqua has offered a week specifically focused on Building the Abrahamic Community.

Chaplains -
A list of Chaplains attending this season.

Choir -
The Chautauqua Choir has been a part of the Institution's life for many generations, providing a musical and spiritual dimension to the worship services each Sunday in the Amphitheater. Over 125 individuals participate in the choir each Sunday throughout the season, singing the finest quality of sacred music from the past as well as a diversity of styles from the present.

Lecturers -
A list of Lecturers attending this season.

Sacred Song -
For eight generations Chautauquans have been gathering in the Amphitheater on Sunday evenings to join the Chautauqua Choir for the Sacred Song Services. These services combine the musical gifts of one of the world's largest singing congregations with the 125-voice Chautauqua Choir, all led by the 5,640 pipes of the Massey Memorial Organ.

2007 Schedule -
The Religion Department 2007 Schedule.

Seminars -
The Religion Department Seminars.

Youth -
The Abrahamic Program for Young Adults (APYA) is designed to reflect the efforts and mission of the Department of Religion in building the Abrahamic Community by teaching young adults at Chautauqua Institution about the relationships between the Abrahamic traditions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

 

Recreation:

Chautauqua Health & Fitness -
For 130 years, the Chautauqua Institution has provided opportunities to enrich the mind, body and spirit. Chautauqua Health & Fitness continues the tradition. We are pleased to provide this resource to both our summer visitors and our surrounding community.

Chautauqua Golf Club -
The finest in golfing tradition since 1896 when golf enthusiasts laid out a course on "links," the Chautauqua Golf Club invites you to the challenge of 36 championship holes.

Sailing -
The Chautauqua Sailing Department presents an ambitious curriculum of one-week sailing courses designed to serve sailors of all ages and skill levels, from beginner to advanced/racer.

Sports Club -
The Chautauqua Sports Club offers a wide variety of recreational and leisure activities, including recreational services and reduced rates for programs including boat rentals, sports equipment, shuffleboard, bridge and lawn bowling.

Swimming -
There are four public swimming beaches within the grounds. The pool at the Turner Community Center is also be open daily throughout the summer for lap swimming, open family swims and classes or special events.

Tennis -
Tennis has a long and rich tradition at Chautauqua. Originally introduced by co-founder John Vincent in 1878, the first lawn tennis court was set up along Chautauqua's lakefront.

Youth -
How important are Chautauqua's youth programs? Just ask a ten-year-old in the nature room at the Boys' and Girls' Club or ask a four-year-old marching in the Children's School Fourth of July Parade.