Jamestown Native Named Chautauqua Institution's 19th President

Mark Coolidge, a career U.S. diplomat, will lead the renowned arts and education center.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 6:10pm

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An impressionistic, out-of-focus photograph showing the silhouette of a historic Chautauqua Institution building against a blurred natural landscape, conveying the institution's tranquil, contemplative atmosphere.The Chautauqua Institution's new president, Mark Coolidge, will build upon the center's storied legacy as a hub for arts, education, and community in western New York.Jamestown Today

The Chautauqua Institution has named Mark Coolidge, a Jamestown native with family ties to the institution, as its 19th president. Coolidge is a career U.S. diplomat who will now lead the renowned arts, education, religion, and recreation center on Chautauqua Lake.

Why it matters

The Chautauqua Institution is a historic and influential center for arts, education, and cultural programming in western New York. Coolidge's appointment as president continues the institution's legacy of local leadership and commitment to the region.

The details

Coolidge, who was born and raised in Jamestown, has deep family connections to the Chautauqua Institution. He will now oversee the renowned center's diverse programming and operations, building on its 150-year history as a hub for intellectual discourse, artistic expression, and community engagement.

  • Mark Coolidge was named the 19th president of the Chautauqua Institution on April 16, 2026.

The players

Mark Coolidge

A career U.S. diplomat and Jamestown native with family ties to the Chautauqua Institution, who has been named the 19th president of the renowned arts and education center.

Chautauqua Institution

A historic arts, education, religion, and recreation center located on Chautauqua Lake in western New York, with a 150-year legacy of programming and community engagement.

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The takeaway

Coolidge's appointment as president of the Chautauqua Institution represents a continuation of the center's tradition of local leadership and commitment to the western New York region, ensuring the institution's influential role in arts, education, and cultural programming will endure.