By Jessica Herndon
Before the lights dim and the first premieres begin, we’re taking you inside the spaces that will shape the Sundance Film Festival experience in Boulder, Colorado. From the historic Boulder Theater to Macky Auditorium and Dairy Arts Center, this series offers a look at the venues where unforgettable Festival moments will unfold.
Beginning in the late 19th century, the Chautauqua movement, a cultural and educational phenomenon that swept the United States, brought Americans together to exchange ideas, hear lectures, listen to music, watch performances and, eventually, see movies. At its height, around 12,000 communities had hosted a chautauqua.
The Colorado Chautauqua opened at the base of Boulder’s Flatirons in 1898. More than a century later, it remains one of the few surviving chautauquas in the country. And it’s the only one west of the Mississippi in continuous operation with its original structures intact and largely used for their original purposes. A national historic landmark, “Chautauqua has remained an important part of Boulder’s cultural life because it has continually renewed itself while staying true to its purpose,” says the Colorado Chautauqua chief executive officer Shelly Benford. “For 127 years, it has adapted to new audiences, new art forms, and new ideas, while remaining a place where people come together around culture, education, nature, and community.”
Film has long been part of that evolution. The Chautauqua Auditorium, a structure built in 1898, hosted the first motion picture shown in Boulder. Now, it’s preparing for another cinematic milestone. Beginning in January, the historic venue will welcome Festivalgoers for screenings during the 2027 Sundance Film Festival. “Sundance isn’t changing Chautauqua’s story,” says Benford, “It feels more like it is becoming part of it.”
Before the Fest kicks off, the auditorium itself is entering a new era. A major revitalization project is bringing geothermal heating and cooling, accessibility improvements, upgraded infrastructure, and more to the venue. For Benford, the balance between Chautauqua’s extraordinary history and the events that will shape its future is central to its staying power. “We find ways to honor what came before us while reimagining what comes next,” she says. Soon, Sundance Film Festival audiences will become part of that progression.
Below, Benford reflects on the Colorado Chautauqua’s incredible legacy, shares how the historic auditorium is being reimagined for the future, and explains why welcoming the Sundance Film Festival feels like a natural next chapter.
There’s an incredible connection between the Colorado Chautauqua and Boulder’s film history. What does it mean to see film become such an important part of the venue’s future with the arrival of the Festival?
It’s pretty amazing to think that more than a century ago, the auditorium hosted Boulder’s very first motion picture screening. Since then, it has welcomed generations of musicians, speakers, performers, and audiences, becoming one of the community’s most cherished gathering places.
Seeing film return to such a prominent role with the Festival coming to Chautauqua feels both fitting and exciting. In many ways, welcoming Sundance reflects what Chautauqua does best. We try to honor our history while continually embracing new opportunities to bring people together.
What should Festgoers know about experiencing the larger Colorado Chautauqua campus?
Chautauqua is unlike any other festival venue because it’s not just a building, it’s an entire historic campus nestled at the base of the Flatirons. Visitors can walk historic grounds, enjoy hiking trails, stay in century-old cottages, dine on the Dining Hall porch, and experience one of the most iconic landscapes in Colorado.
Chautauqua is a place where culture and nature meet. You can attend a world-class performance or film screening and then step outside into an extraordinary natural setting. There’s a sense of authenticity and connection here that people feel immediately. It invites you to slow down, engage with ideas, and share your experiences with others.
The Colorado Chautauqua has welcomed legendary artists and speakers since 1898. Is there a story that captures the magic of the space?
What stands out to me isn’t a single performance but the incredible range of experiences that have taken place within the walls of what looks like a giant barn. The auditorium has hosted presidential candidates, civil rights leaders, renowned musicians, groundbreaking thinkers, film screenings, and beloved local events.
There’s something special about attending an event in a structure built in 1898 and realizing that countless others have sat in those same seats. The magic comes from the continuity of those shared experiences across generations.
The auditorium is undergoing a major transformation ahead of the 2027 Festival. What are the most significant changes audiences will notice?
Audiences will notice improvements in comfort, accessibility, and the overall guest experience from the moment they arrive. The project includes expanded restrooms, enhanced concessions, new event spaces beneath the auditorium, and significant accessibility upgrades for both patrons and performers.
Some of the most transformative changes, however, will be behind the scenes. We’re installing a new fire suppression system, making structural improvements that will strengthen and preserve the building for generations to come, and adding radiant heat powered by a state-of-the-art geothermal system. Combined with upgraded technology and life-safety systems, these investments will allow the auditorium to operate as a modern, year-round cultural venue.
Visitors will experience all these improvements while still feeling the magic of the historic auditorium they know and love. The goal isn’t to change the building’s character. It’s to ensure this National Historic Landmark remains vibrant, relevant, and inspiring for another hundred or so years.
For Boulder residents who have been coming to the Colorado Chautauqua for years, what will it feel like to experience it as a Sundance Film Festival venue for the first time?
I think there will be a sense of pride and excitement. Residents already know Chautauqua as one of Boulder’s most treasured places. Seeing it showcased on an international stage while remaining true to its character will be incredibly meaningful.
At the same time, I suspect it will feel surprisingly familiar. The atmosphere that people love about Chautauqua — gathering with friends, sharing experiences, discovering new ideas, enjoying the setting beneath the Flatirons — will still be there. Sundance will bring new energy and new audiences, while building on qualities that have defined Chautauqua for more than a century.
