Chautauqua Style: History Comes Alive!
Chautauqua is a program format that exemplifies
experiential, interactive learning for the whole family. Historians gifted in the art of acting portray historical figures and take questions from the audience. A skilled Chautauqua performer
takes you out of the present and into a previous era. Yet no matter how
alien or strange the subject matter, you are able to connect with it because
you engage in discussion with the person from the past.
We organize a Chautauqua tour in the month of June. We also support home-grown Chautauqua programs through our grants process. That allows people to develop programs on a different theme, with fewer or more characters than we tour, and at a different time of the year.
In 2009 we will again tour a program titled, THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! It's about American innovators such as Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, Margaret Mitchell, or P.T. Barnum.
Community Chautauqua Hosts in 2009
- Cass County (Harrisonville)
- El Dorado Springs
- Joplin
Build-Your-Own Chautauqua
If you like the Chautauqua style of programming, you can put your own set of programs together with "how-to" information and with our downloadbale National Directory of Chautauqua Performers in our Document Library.