During Chautauqua Institution’s nine-week summer assembly season, each week’s programs center on a thought-provoking theme. The Chautauqua Lecture Series platform at the Chautauqua Amphitheater features world-renowned speakers on topics that illuminate the week’s theme. Other lecture platforms include the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) Best-Selling Author Lectures, the Interfaith Lecture Series, the Contemporary Issues Forum presented by The Chautauqua Women's Club, and the African American Heritage House Speaker Series. Ideas and opinions are exchanged in an open, challenging atmosphere. Chautauqua's knowledgeable audiences have the opportunity to participate in question-and-answer sessions at the conclusion of each lecture.