Aspen Community Programs

It all began with an inspired idea. During a visit to Aspen, Colorado in 1945, Chicago businessman Walter Paepcke and his wife, Elizabeth were moved by its great natural beauty. They envisioned Aspen as an ideal gathering place for thinkers, leaders, artists, and musicians from around the world to step away from their daily routines and reflect on the underlying values of society and culture.

More than six decades later, the Aspen Institute is dedicated to offering a vast array of programs for Aspen-area residents and visitors. We offer ways to take part in Institute programs and we create events that highlight what is at our core: providing a commons for people to share ideas.

We hope that you will join us at an event, listen on the radio, watch on our website or contribute to our scholarship fund. The Aspen Community Programs offer a diverse mix of opportunities, taking place in Aspen year round, and attract locals and visitors alike who share a desire for learning and reflecting on the ideas that shape ourselves, our society and the world in which we live.

We look forward to seeing you in Aspen soon.