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.