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Chautauqua Speakers Bureau

"What better way to learn about a time in history than to see and hear someone portray a person from a particular place and time. I really liked her posters with pictures and maps. Very informative. Lynne Swanson did a marvelous job!" - audience member from Lynne Swanson as Isabella Bird, Rangeview Library District in Thornton, 2008

"Made me cry when she finally finds her daughter" - audience member from Opalanga Pugh as Aunt Clara Brown, Breckenridge Heritage Alliance in Frisco, 2008

"I want to go to Rocky Mountain Park" - audience member, 4th grade, from John Stansfield as Enos Mills, Lewis Palmer Elementary School in Monument, 2008

Applications may be submitted for Speakers Bureau programs beginning after January 1, 2012.

Who

Libraries, schools, museums, conferences, churches, professional organizations and other local communities throughout Colorado.

What

Chautauqua speakers perform first-person dramatizations of literary and historical figures in period costumes.  Access a list of Chautauqua characters and their performers.

Why

The Chautauqua Speakers Bureau helps organizations offer high-quality humanities programs to their communities.

Where

Statewide in Colorado schools, libraries, and other organizations. In an effort to increase the distribution of programs across the state, Colorado Humanities will give priority to applications from organizations in regions that have not yet received funding during a fiscal year.

When

View a calendar of Chautauqua Speakers Bureau events across Colorado.

How Much

Free to the public. Host organizations pay a $50 cost share for first presentation, $100 for second, $200 for third.

Timeline

Please submit applications for Chautauqua Speakers Bureau 8 weeks prior to your program. Colorado Humanities staff will review the application and notify you within two weeks.

Start Here

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS: To host a scholar, contact Betty Jo Brenner at 303.894.7951 x17 or brenner@coloradohumanities.org.

 Application Procedure

When planning to host a Chautauqua speaker, here are some guidelines:

  • Review the Speakers Bureau Application
  • Review the online list of possible speakers.
  • Call Betty Jo Brenner at 303.894 .7951 x17 for the contact information of your selected Chautauqua speaker, and to ask any questions you might have about the Speakers Bureau Application
  • Contact your selected Chautauqua speaker to discuss the details of your program as outlined on the last page of the Speakers Bureau Application entitled Contract Between Colorado Humanities and Presenter
  • Have the selected Chautauqua speaker agree to the details of your program by signing the Contract Between Colorado Humanities and Presenter
  • Mail the completed Speakers Bureau Application, including the original signed copy of the Contract Between Colorado Humanities and Presenter page, at least 8 weeks before the planned program to:
  • Find Colorado and U.S. Representative at votesmart.org

Colorado Humanities
7935 E. Prentice Ave., Suite 450
Greenwood Village, CO  80111

Colorado Humanities staff will review the application and notify you within two weeks. The cash cost share noted in the application is only required if your application is approved. CH will pay Chautauqua speakers directly after the completion of the program. Programs are to be free of charge to the audience.

In an effort to increase the distribution of programs across the state, Colorado Humanities will give priority to applications from organizations in regions that have not yet received funding during a fiscal year. If your organization would like to request a second program, the expected cash cost share would be doubled. If you would like a third program during the same fiscal year, your cash cost share would be tripled.

GENERAL PUBLIC: Find out about programs, dates, times, and locations on our calendar.

SCHOLARS: If you are interested in preparing a Chautauqua presentation for our Speakers Bureau, please contact Betty Jo Brenner at 303.894.7951 x17 or brenner@coloradohumanities.org.