Mission and Philosophy

Mission Statement

The New Old Time Chautauqua is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to build community through laughter, entertainment and education.

Our Goals:

• To present programs to diverse communities with a focus on under-served areas
• To partner with local groups to organize and present community events
• To promote interaction within communities.

We aim to delight, educate, amaze, and provoke the imagination of adults and children alike.

To achieve our mission, NOTC sponsors a 4-part touring event which consists of:

• a lively "EVERYBODY'S WELCOME!" parade through the center of the host town in an effort to reach as many people as possible while in any given area
• free public educational workshops
• an institutional-community show, when possible, and
• a rip-roaring, balls o' fire, all the bells and whistles, vaudeville variety show

---

Philosophy

The NOTC is an intentional community of performers, friends, and family whose commitment to each other, to humor, to the free exchange of ideas between communities, and to vaudeville as a viable and entertaining art form is paramount.

Our tenets include:

• A strongly held belief that the arts are an integral force in education
• Cultural and geographic isolation should not prevent the arts from being accessible and affordable
• The cultivation and everyday application of creativity inspires and revives community spirit
• We believe in the seriousness of laughter
• Through entertainment and the sharing of information, communities of people can be brought together and mutually enriched, highlighting our common interests and thus strengthening our connections

---