Chicago Cultural Center

Completed in 1897 as Chicago’s first central library, the building was established as the Chicago Cultural Center, the nation's first and most comprehensive free municipal cultural venue, in 1991. One of the most visited attractions in Chicago, the stunning landmark building is home to two magnificent stained-glass domes, as well as free visual art exhibitions, performances, tours, lectures, family activities, music, and more – presented by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and many others. Learn about the latest events and news at ChicagoCulturalCenter.org and by following the Chicago Cultural Center on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Image: rendering of Kerry James Marshall mural on the back of the Chicago Cultural Center on Garland Court, fall 2017

78 E. Washington Chicago, IL 60602
312-744-6630
dcase@cityofchicago.org
www.chicagoculturalcenter.org
Open Daily 10am–5pm

Current and Upcoming Events at Chicago Cultural Center

Exhibitions
Surviving the Long Wars: Transformative Threads
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Dec 08, 2024
Exhibitions
Victoria Martinez: Braiding Histories
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jul 28, 2024
Exhibitions
Images on which to build, 1970s-1990s
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Aug 04, 2024
Exhibitions
Opening Passages: Artists Respond to Chicago and Paris 
Chicago Cultural Center
May 4 – Aug 25, 2024
Talks
Opening Passages: Artists Respond to Chicago and Paris : Gallery Talk
Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 12 – 1 pm
Exhibitions
Dorothy Graden: Timeless Mysteries
Chicago Cultural Center
May 10 – Jul 7, 2024
Talks
Artist Talk: Dorothy Graden
Chicago Cultural Center
Friday, May 10, 2024 1 – 2 pm
Exhibitions Opening Reception
Timeless Mysteries
Chicago Cultural Center
Opening: Friday, May 17, 2024 3 – 6 pm
Through May 17, 2024
Galas / Special Events Opening Reception
Summer Open House
Chicago Cultural Center
Opening: Thursday, May 30, 2024 4 – 8 pm
Through May 30, 2024
Talks
Images on which to build, 1970s-1990s: Gallery Talk
Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, Jun 12, 2024 12 – 1 pm

Past Events
Talks
Victoria Martinez: Braiding Histories: Conversation with Curator Iris Colburn
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Apr 13, 2024 3 – 4:30 pm
Galas / Special Events
Spring Open House
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Apr 11, 2024
TalksTours
Victoria Martinez: Braiding Histories Talk & Tour
Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, Apr 10, 2024 12 – 1 pm
Exhibitions
Freedom Square: The Black Girlhood Altar
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Mar 10, 2024
Exhibitions
First Look: Artworks by the Inaugural Cohort of the CPS RE:ALIZE Early College Arts Program
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Apr 19, 2023
Exhibitions
Surviving the Long Wars: Reckon and Reimagine
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jun 04, 2023
Exhibitions
Reimagine Your Public Library: Presented by Chicago Architecture Biennial
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jun 30, 2023
Exhibitions
Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Apr 30, 2023
Performances
“Music for Light” – Katinca Kleijn and Lia Kohl in response to Exact Dutch Yellow
Chicago Cultural Center
Tuesday, Jan 17, 2023 6 – 8 pm
Talks
How Artists with Disabilities Fit into the Greater Art World
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Dec 10, 2022 10 am – 12:30 pm
TalksEducation
The Ethics of Exhibiting Artists with Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Disabilities
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Nov 19, 2022
Exhibitions
Luftwerk: Exact Dutch Yellow
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jan 29, 2023
Exhibitions
Artists First: 25 Years of Studio Art at Thresholds
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jan 08, 2023
Exhibitions
"Nelly Agassi: No Limestone, No Marble"
Chicago Cultural Center
Through May 14, 2023
Talks
Gallery Talk with Daniel Schulman on Robert Colescott
Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, Apr 13, 2022 12:15 – 1 pm
Exhibitions
Jin Lee: Views & Scenes
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Aug 07, 2022
Exhibitions
An Instrument in the Shape of a Woman
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Sep 04, 2022
Talks
“It’s the satire that kills the serpent, you know…”: Robert Colescott and the Art of Racial Irony
Chicago Cultural Center
Thursday, Feb 17, 2022 7 – 8:30 pm
Talks
Gallery Talk with Daniel Schulman on Robert Colescott
Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, Feb 16, 2022 12:15 – 1 pm
Exhibitions
The Great Chicago Fire in Focus
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Apr 03, 2022
Talks
Gallery Talks with Daniel Schulman DCASE Director of Visual Arts
Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 12:15 – 1 pm
Performances
Colescott Night: Comedy and Performances Curated and Hosted by Melissa DuPrey
Chicago Cultural Center
Monday, Dec 13, 2021 6 – 9:30 pm
Exhibitions
Art and Race Matters: The Career of Robert Colescott
Chicago Cultural Center
Through May 29, 2022
Talks
InDialogue: Architecture and the City Ecosystem
Chicago Cultural Center
Tuesday, Nov 9, 2021 6 – 7:30 pm
Performances
Performance: Norman W. Long
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Sep 18, 2021 6 – 7 pm
Exhibitions
Jin Lee: Views & Scenes
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jan 02, 2022
Exhibitions
CHICAGO: Where Comics Came to Life (1880-1960)
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Oct 03, 2021
Exhibitions
what flies but never lands?
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Sep 05, 2021
Exhibitions
Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford: League of Nations
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Aug 29, 2021
Exhibitions
Great Ideas of Humanity
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Apr 19, 2020
Exhibitions
In Flux: Chicago Artists and Immigration
Chicago Cultural Center
Through May 10, 2020
Exhibitions
Luis Sahagun: Both Eagle and Serpent
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Apr 26, 2020
ExhibitionsPerformances
Requiem: A White Wanderer
Chicago Cultural Center
Friday, Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2020 11 am – 6 pm
Exhibitions
Edra Soto: Screenhouse
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Oct 01, 2021
Exhibitions
Growing Community
Chicago Cultural Center
Through May 10, 2020
Markets / Sales
Millennium Park Art Market
Chicago Cultural Center
Friday, Nov 22 – 24, 2019 12 – 5 pm
Exhibitions
Chicago Architecture Biennial
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jan 05, 2020
Galas / Special Events
Chicago Jazz Festival
Chicago Cultural Center
Thursday, Aug 29 – Sep 1, 2019 6:30 – 9 pm
Film / Video
ReelAbilities Film Festival
Chicago Cultural Center
Thursday, Aug 22, 2019 6 – 8 pm
Performances
Dance to China!
Chicago Cultural Center
Sunday, Aug 18, 2019 2 – 3 pm
Film / Video
Chicago Digital Media Production Fund Showcase
Chicago Cultural Center
Monday, Aug 12, 2019 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Talks
Tim Samuelson: Bronzeville Echoes
Chicago Cultural Center
Friday, Aug 9, 2019 12:15 – 1:15 pm
Performances
Crossing Borders Music
Chicago Cultural Center
Sunday, Jul 21, 2019 2 – 3:30 pm
Talks
Container Vegetable Garden Lecture
Chicago Cultural Center
Sunday, Jun 23, 2019 1 – 3 pm
Film / Video
The Lavender Scare
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Jun 15, 2019 2 – 4 pm
Performances
Columbia College Chicago Community Schools Dance Concert
Chicago Cultural Center
Sunday, Jun 9, 2019 3 – 4 pm
Exhibitions
National Veterans Art Museum Triennial: On War & Survival
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jul 29, 2019
Exhibitions
National Veterans Art Museum Triennial: On War & Survival
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jul 28, 2019
Exhibitions
Goat Island Archive: We have discovered the performance by making it
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jun 23, 2019
Exhibitions
Panoramic Vistas: Photography by David Bechtol
Chicago Cultural Center
Through May 03, 2019
Tours
Chicago Children's Choir Open Rehearsal: Black History Month Concert Series
Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, Feb 20, 2019 5 – 7 pm
Exhibitions
Forgotten Forms
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Apr 07, 2019
Exhibitions
Furtive
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Apr 07, 2019
Exhibitions
In Good Company
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Apr 07, 2019
Exhibitions
Chicago! The Play, The Movies, The Musical...The Murders
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jul 28, 2019
Exhibitions
Bronzeville Echoes: Faces and Places of Chicago’s African American Music
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jul 28, 2019
Exhibitions
Cecil McDonald, Jr.: In the Company of Black
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Apr 14, 2019
Performances
Everyone's a Designer: Live Storytelling Event
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Jan 12, 2019 1:30 – 3:30 pm
TalksEducation
University of Chicago First Friday Lecture Series
Chicago Cultural Center
Friday, Jan 4, 2019 12:45 – 2 pm
Talks
African American Designers in Chicago: Gallery Talk
Chicago Cultural Center
Thursday, Jan 3, 2019 12:15 – 1 pm
Education
Everyone's a Designer: Learning Lab Meet an Artist
Chicago Cultural Center
Friday, Dec 21, 2018 12 – 2 pm
Art Fairs
Pocket Con 2018
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Dec 15, 2018 12 – 6 pm
Exhibitions
Everyone’s a Designer/Everyone’s Design
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Feb 03, 2019
TalksEducation
University of Chicago First Friday Lecture Series
Chicago Cultural Center
Friday, Dec 7, 2018 12:15 – 2 pm
ToursYouth / Families
Jukebox Featuring Bollywood Grove
Chicago Cultural Center
Friday, Dec 7, 2018 11 – 11:45 am
ToursYouth / Families
Dance Along Nutcracker
Chicago Cultural Center
Sunday, Dec 2, 2018 11 am – 4 pm
Exhibitions
Keep Moving: Designing Chicago's Bicycle Culture
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Mar 03, 2019
ToursFilm / Video
The T
Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, Nov 28, 2018 6 – 8 pm
Exhibitions
African American Designers in Chicago: Art, Commerce and the Politics of Race
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Mar 03, 2019
Exhibitions
Nature, The Glorious Handiwork of the Creator
Chicago Cultural Center
Friday, Sep 14 – Nov 9, 2018 11 pm – 12 am
Exhibitions
Tuned Mass: Jeff Carter, Raheem Majeed & Susan Giles
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jan 06, 2019
ExhibitionsTalks
Year of Creative Youth Exhibitions
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jan 06, 2019
Exhibitions
Alexis Rockman: The Great Lakes Cycle
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Jun 2 – Oct 1, 2018 5 – 9 pm
Exhibitions
Bronzeville Echoes: Faces and Places of Chicago’s African American Music Search Events
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Jan 06, 2019
Talks
Nina Chanel Abney: Royal Flush Gallery Talk
Chicago Cultural Center
Thursday, Apr 19, 2018 12:15 – 1:15 pm
Exhibitions
Keith Haring: The Chicago Mural
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Mar 3 – Sep 23, 2018 10 – 11 pm
Exhibitions
Nina Chanel Abney: Royal Flush
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Feb 10 – May 6, 2018 10 – 11 pm
Exhibitions
Scott Stack: Interior and Exterior
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Feb 10 – Aug 5, 2018 10 – 11 pm
Exhibitions
Xavier Toubes: Descriptions Without a Place
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Feb 3 – Jul 29, 2018 10 – 11 pm
Exhibitions
de-skinned: duk ju l kim recent work
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Feb 3 – Jul 29, 2018 10 – 11 pm
Exhibitions
Cleveland Dean: Recto/Verso – Duality of a Fragile Ego
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Feb 3 – Jul 29, 2018 10 – 11 pm
Film / Video
Film Screening: "My Neighborhood: Pilsen"
Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, Dec 6, 2017 6:30 – 9 pm
Exhibitions
Chicago Architecture Biennial
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Sep 16, 2017 – Jan 7, 2018 5 – 6 pm
Tours
Chicago Park District and Chicago Sculpture International: Sculpture Around Town
Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, Jun 21 – 25, 2017 6 – 7 pm
Tours
Chicago Park District and Synapse Arts
Chicago Cultural Center
Wednesday, Jun 21, 2017 6 – 7 pm
Tours
Silk Road Rising
Chicago Cultural Center
Thursday, May 25, 2017 3 – 6 pm
Youth / Families
Young People's Concerts
Chicago Cultural Center
Thursday, May 18 – Jun 1, 2017 10:30 am – 12 pm
Art Fairs
Chicago Sculpture Exhibit
Chicago Cultural Center
Thursday, May 11 – Oct 1, 2017 6 – 7 pm
Tours
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Cultural Center
Thursday, May 11 – Oct 1, 2017 5 – 6 pm
Exhibitions
Candida Alvarez: Here
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Apr 29 – Aug 6, 2017 4 – 5 pm
Exhibitions
The Wall of Respect: Vestiges, Shards and Legacies
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Feb 25 – Jul 30, 2017 4 – 5 pm
Talks
Discussion with Artists and Curators: The Wall of Respect
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Feb 25, 2017 1 – 3:30 pm
Talks
Artist Talk: Eugene Eda's Doors for Malcolm X College
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Feb 25, 2017 11 am – 12 pm
Nicole Marroquin and Andres L. Hernandez: Printing Workshops
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Feb 25, 2017 10 am – 6 pm
Exhibitions
Nicole Marroquin and Andres L. Hernandez: Historical F(r)ictions
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Feb 18 – May 7, 2017 4 – 5 pm
Exhibitions
50 x 50 Invitational / The Subject is Chicago: People, Places, Possibilities
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Feb 11 – Apr 9, 2017 4 – 5 pm
Exhibitions
Artist in Residence: Aram Han Sifuentes
Chicago Cultural Center
Tuesday, Feb 7 – May 18, 2017 4 – 5 pm
Exhibitions
Eugene Eda’s Doors for Malcolm X College
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Jan 21 – Jun 25, 2017 4 – 5 pm
Exhibitions
The Pride & Perils of Chicago’s Public Art
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, Jan 14 – Jul 30, 2017 4 – 5 pm
Exhibitions
Chicago Architecture Biennial Installations
Chicago Cultural Center
Through Dec 31, 2018