Attending a university in such close proximity to Chicago comes with many perks, especially for anyone with an interest in art. Through Northwestern University’s partnerships with the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago, there are opportunities to see works by famous artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as new works ranging in style from sculptures to dance performances.
Students can visit the Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago at anytime, but on Mondays through Fridays, the intercampus shuttle route ends just outside the museum, providing free and easy transportation for student visitors. Audiences looking to see a broad range of art can take the CTA red line which will bring you less than five minutes away from the entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago. Admission to both the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago is free for all Northwestern students. Simply present your Wildcard at the ticket counter.
In addition to these year-long benefits, there are a few upcoming special events to keep an eye on. On Thursday, November 9, the university will host Northwestern Night at the Art Institute. From 5:00-8:00 PM, the university will give out free tickets to all Wildcard holders and their guests, including faculty members and graduate students. Once at the museum, there will be free tours of certain exhibits, including the Art Institute Collection Highlights, the American Revolutionary Art, the featured temporary exhibit Tarsila do Amaral: Inventing Modern Art in Brazil, and discussions with docents from The Block Museum. Additionally, the university will be giving students free CTA passes to transport them between Northwestern’s Evanston campus and the museum.
On Tuesday, November 14, Northwestern Night at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago will be a chance for Northwestern students to socialize, play for prizes, and receive promotions all while enjoying the unique setting. Make sure to come early; the MCA is a small museum with limited admittance.
To find more information about these events, take a look at the Student Organizations and Activities website, and be sure to follow the SOA facebook page for new events scheduled each quarter. For art history majors and Ferris Bueller fans alike, these two amazing museums are just waiting to be explored.