Today, Chautauqua Institution celebrates the 16th annual Buffalo Day. On this day, Buffalo residents can come to Chautauqua Institution free of charge, celebrating the Buffalo-Chautauqua Idea first envisioned by Buffalo Day founder and coordinator Dennis Galucki.
“Buffalo Day is really a component of an idea rooted in a course that I gave at Chautauqua Institution as part of the Special Studies in 2006 and 2007,” said Galucki. “That course was called ‘Imagine Buffalo in the 21st Century: The Buffalo-Chautauqua Idea.’ ”
The goal of the Buffalo-Chautauqua Idea is described on its website as “exploring American legacy through place-based lifelong learning and imagination.”
This is why Galucki found Week Four’s theme, “The Future of the American Experiment,” in tune with the Buffalo-Chautauqua Idea’s goal.
“I always pick a week that, I think, allows me to develop a thought,” Galucki said.
The day explores the future of the Buffalo-Chautauqua connection and the exchange of ideas through three Buffalo Day events at Chautauqua Institution, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the Hall of Christ with “Erie Canal 200: A Lifelong Learning Experience.”
The second is a Buffalo Day Talk given by Vice President of Original Content Creation at Buffalo Toronto Public Media Lynne Bader at 2:15 p.m. at the Smith Memorial Library.
The final presentation “Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children’s Series” is at 4:45 p.m. at Smith Wilkes Hall with authors Tony Buttino, Sr., Barbara Irwin and Pam Johnson.
Galucki looks to continue the Buffalo-Chautauqua Idea by using it as an avenue of learning.
“I really think we have to see all libraries, all cultures and especially Chautauqua — which has many roles — as a lifelong learning center,” said Galucki.
