The Chautauqua Institution, a non-profit organisation famous for its lectures, performances and recreation at its New York campus, is opening its office in D.C. ahead of its 150th anniversary in 2024.
Located at 1602 L St. NW, the D.C. office will be the first real expansion for the Institution. Officially opened in September, the office was redesigned throughout the summer season.
“Sixty percent of the people that we present – primarily because it’s the nation’s capital – are either based here or come through here,” said Michael Hill, President of Chautauqua Institution.
Unlike in the 750-acre campus in Chautauqua, N.Y, not many programs will take place at the D.C. office for now. The events will be held a few blocks from the second headquarter of Chautauqua.
“We partner with so many people here in terms of our speakers. From National Geographic, (to) The Newseum, The Holocaust Museum, The Smithsonian,” said Bishop Gene Robinson, the Institution’s vice president of religion.
The opening of D.C. office is expected to raise enough money for upgrades of campus, off-season programming, and also help in making a new year-round Interfaith Center which will be led by Robinson. “My goal is that when you say ‘interfaith,’ you think of Chautauqua,” said Robinson.
According to Robinson, among roughly 100, 000 visitors to the Chautauqua campus each summer, the Washington, D.C. market is the fourth-largest the Institution serves. The opening of D.C. office will also help them become a world-player.
Meetings with nation’s top leaders in Washington, D.C. will also help recruit them back to Western New York.
“I still believe that the nine-week season that we do will always be the purest manifestation of what we do. But I think that Chautauqua has an opportunity to do much more in the world. I think the world is calling us to do it,” said Hill.