CHAUTAUQUA – Chautauqua Institution has launched a new capital campaign to coincide with the institution’s 150th anniversary this year.

The $150 million campaign is composed of capital projects and initiatives that elevate the institution’s traditional Summer Assembly, expand its role as a year-round convener of world leaders and artists, promote science-based conservation of Chautauqua Lake and bolster its endowment. The campaign began Jan. 1, 2021, and is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2026. More than $105 million has been raised to date.

“One hundred fifty years ago, a Methodist bishop and a visionary industrialist united to create a sacred place of respite and sparked a movement that changed the world,” said Chautauqua Institution President Dr. Michael E. Hill, and Boundless Campaign co-chairs Larry and Brenda Thompson in a joint statement. “A century and a half later, we celebrate our inheritance of their legacy of curiosity and commit to stewarding their mission of expanding our horizons together.”

Among the projects and initiatives included in Boundless are:

≤ Restoration of the Athenaeum Hotel, the last operating 19th-century hotel on Chautauqua Lake, that includes weatherization to protect the building’s infrastructure

≤ Completion of a state-of-the-art facility for Chautauqua Theater Company that includes a 99-seat black box performance venue, administrative offices, prop shop facilities and rehearsal spaces

≤ Expansion of programs that build on Chautauqua’s reputation as a convening authority, including the establishment of a Chautauqua Fellows Program, extension of the Chautauqua Climate Change Initiative, and investment in the CHQ Assembly digital platform

≤ Significant commitments for data collection and “in-lake” interventions to conserve Chautauqua Lake, one of New York State’s most impaired bodies of water, in partnership with The Jefferson Project at Lake George

≤ Investment in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) initiatives that develop and retain a more diverse patron base, promote more inclusive programming, and ensure a more accessible guest experience

≤ Renovation of Bellinger Hall, which houses hundreds of students in Chautauqua’s Schools of Performing & Visual Arts each summer and serves as a base for out-of-season gatherings

≤ Construction of a flexible, scalable village to house essential seasonal staff and increase operational capacity during the Summer Assembly

≤ Contributions to the Chautauqua Foundation exceeding $50 million to endow programmatic leadership roles, programmatic excellence, flexible support and scholarships

“In Boundless, Chautauqua Institution has an opportunity to both make a larger impact on the world beyond our historic grounds and preserve the aspects of the experience that our returning patrons love,” said Geoff Follansbee, Chautauqua Institution senior vice president and chief advancement officer. “We are calling on a wide coalition of individuals, institutional funders, and government agencies to invest in this place and its purpose. In this special sesquicentennial year, it is our responsibility to ensure that the Institution thrives and changes lives for its next 150 years.”