What is Chautauqua?
The Dr. Bruce MacLaren Chautauqua Lecture Series, formerly administered by the EKU Honors Program and now by the EKU Libraries, is entering its twenty-fourth year. Like the original Chautauqua Institution in Upstate New York, it has the goals of:
- Refreshing minds
- Renewing intellectual curiosity
- Encouraging individual expression
- Promoting civil discourse.
President Theodore Roosevelt said that Chautauqua was "the most American of institutions," and John Vincent wrote that it was the aim of the Chautauqua Institution to "take people on all sides of their natures and make them new, more intelligent and thoughtful in a world of ideas." We agree. Adding to this original vision, we also:
- Explore a single, significant idea
- Educate by engaging people
- Challenge individuals to explore their assumptions
- Provide a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
The 2023-24 Chautauqua Lecture Series at Eastern Kentucky University is still in the planning phase. As always, our guests will include scholars, writers and public figures in a variety of areas and fields of expertise. Plus, we will be continuing our tradition of hosting an Art Exhibition in conjunction with the Giles Gallery. We hope you are looking forward to another exciting year of stimulating ideas, eye-opening explorations, presentations, performances and engaging conversations!
All Chautauqua Lectures are Free and Open to the Public.
Presentations begin at 7:30 PM.
Locations as per schedule (O'Donnell Hall, Center for the Arts, etc.).
Free Parking is available on campus in all 'E'/Employee lots (yellow lots on campus map).