Chautauqua, New York

Chautauqua Institution

Taking the old and making the new A fundraising and donor recognition program.

View more projects in Museums, Cultural, and Civic Institutions

We developed a distinctive way to recognize donors to a new $41 million renovation of the storied Amphitheater at the Chautauqua Institution.

We designed a series of sculptural monoliths, crafted from limestone and stainless steel and etched with donor names. The monuments feature historic images that trace the evolution of the structure.

The Amphitheater is the center of the Chautauqua experience. The new “Amp” replaced a previous incarnation that had fallen into disrepair.

Installation of the donor recognition monoliths. The structures were fabricated from marine-grade stainless steel, inserted into limestone bases quarried to match the stone in the building.

The donor recognition panels inside the space were crafted from wood reclaimed from the previous structure.

We developed the idea of “Chautauqua’s Promise,” a capital campaign to finance the construction of the new Amphitheater.

Campaign signage on the Chautauqua grounds, incorporating notable speakers’ quotes from over the decades.

Campaign-related banners

…and environmental installations

Pop-up direct mail piece soliciting donations for a "buy a bench" fundraising initiative

…which featured the construction of an oversized Amphitheatre bench. (They raised the required funds eight months ahead of schedule.)

Designers
Alexander Isley
Christina Holland

Writers
Georgann Eubanks
Alexander Isley

Collections
Special Collections Research Center
NC State University Libraries

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