CHICAGO— The Art Institute of Chicago and City Colleges of Chicago
are delighted to announce a new partnership that provides free admission to the
museum for the community college system’s 77,000 students annually.
“Chicago’s
status as a world-class artistic capital is drawn from the richness of our
cultural centers and institutions, showcasing the timeless beauty and
craftsmanship of ancient and contemporary artists,” said Mayor Lori E.
Lightfoot. “Thanks to this new partnership, the students of Chicago’s City
Colleges now have access to perhaps our greatest cultural treasure of all, the
Art Institute of Chicago, enabling them to enjoy, share, and grow from the
museum’s boundless wealth of works and resources as they move forward with
their education, and take our city to new heights.”
President
and Eloise W. Martin Director James Rondeau emphasized the
museum’s dedication to ensuring broad community accessibility, noting that
“this partnership with City Colleges deepens our connection to Chicago students
throughout their educational journey. We look forward to welcoming City College
students as they experience the museum and our collection in important new
ways.”
“Partnerships are key to creating relevant
opportunities and resources for our students,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado. “We
are thrilled that City Colleges students will now have free access to the Art
Institute, an internationally-renown cultural institution, allowing them to
further their studies and enrich their lives.”
Admission to the museum is now free
for all City Colleges students with presentation of their valid college ID. City Colleges’ seven colleges and five
satellite sites serve students pursuing associate degrees and certificates, earning
a high school equivalency, learning English, or advancing their professional or
personal development, including many first-generation college students.
A significant step toward making its
exhibitions, collections, and programming as broadly available as possible, this
new initiative reflects the Art Institute’s ongoing commitment to expanding
community accessibility and joins other existing free admission opportunities,
including:
·
All children under 14
·
Chicago teens under 18
·
LINK and WIC
cardholders
·
Illinois educators
·
Active-duty military and their
families
·
5:00–8:00
p.m. on Wednesday evenings for all Illinois residents
This access allows 25 percent of the
Art Institute’s 1.55 million annual visitors to be admitted to the museum without
charge. City Colleges of Chicago now joins the museum’s University Partner
program, providing access to art as a means to enhance
studies and broaden perspectives.
About the Art Institute of
Chicago’s University Partner Program
The
University Partner Program offers students access to the wealth of resources at
the second-largest art museum in the United States. With free admission 362
days a year, students can explore the Art Institute’s renowned global
collection of more than 270,000 objects, enjoy a robust exhibition schedule,
access archival materials at the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries, and attend
diverse lectures and performances. Other current
university partners include: the University of Chicago, Northwestern, DePaul
University, Loyola University and others.