Though Chautauquas — programs designed to bring educational speakers and performers into communities — originated on the East Coast in the 19th Century, they continue to enhance and engage cultural enrichment in communities throughout the county, including the Capital region.
“Chautauqua can be a good foundation for larger discussions and making changes,” says David Sheridan, assistant professor at Michigan State University’s (MSU) Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH).
Chautauqua participants, which consists of an average of 25 people, learn from other people and other communities by starting discussions about varying topics throughout the community. Earlier this year, the Chautauqua group traveled to three areas of Detroit to discuss community development and engagement. Of course, they then bring the ideas home, which can precipitate change and engagement at a local level.
“We’re just trying to figure out what to do with this incredible interest,” says RCAH Academic Specialist Vincent Delgado about the creative resources in the Capital region. “It’s a little disconcerting. What do we do with this? People have ideas and one of the interesting things will be to stand back and let the group make it happen.”
Delgado suggests that by igniting ideas and learning from other people, institutions and cities, Chautauqua participants will start to change their own community.
This fall marks the third series of Capital region Chautauquas, which was launched by staff, students and administrators in the RCAH and MSU’s James Madison and Lyman Briggs Colleges.
Though a discussion topic is selected every year, the conversation is fluid and driven by participants, which often changes the course of the discussion. The group is now focusing on creativity, economic development and ethics and will host its next meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Oct. 21, at the Creole Gallery in Old Town.
“We’re talking about engaging folks who are coming together on their own free will, not because they’re forced to, to talk about issues that are relevant at the moment,” Delgado says.
Source: Vincent Delgado, RCAH
Ivy Hughes is the managing editor of Capital Gains and can be reached here.
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