(Adler Planetarium / Facebook)

On Wednesday, the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners approved an admission fee increase that will take effect April 1.

A look inside the “007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond” exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. (Kelsey Ryan)

Two large galleries showcase tricked-out vehicles, artifacts and gadgets from 25 films in the series, along with movie clips that set the scene.

The “Evicted” exhibit runs through March 10 at the National Public Housing Museum. (WTTW News)

The exhibit at the National Public Housing Museum in River North is inspired by the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Evicted” by Princeton sociologist Matthew Desmond.

Covered display at the Field Museum on Jan. 31, 2024. (WTTW News / Eunice Alpasan)

“What’s disappointing is that it takes a federal law to push institutions and agencies to comply and to even just create consultation with tribes,” said Eli Suzukovich, director of cultural preservation and compliance for the Office for Research at Northwestern University.

(WTTW News)

Updated federal regulations require museums to obtain “free, prior and informed consent” from affiliated tribes before displaying or doing research on Native human remains or cultural items.

(Brenna Hernandez / Shedd Aquarium)

If you’re seeking activities that don’t break the bank this winter, look no further than local museums, zoos and gardens. A number have announced free admission days in 2024.

© 2023 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Even an artistic genius gets by with a little help from his friends. “Picasso: Drawing from Life” spotlights the artist’s works on paper and explores the influence of friends, muses, fellow artists and dealers.

Items on sale at the Buddy store inside the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. (Marc Vitali / WTTW News)

Museum shops and galleries have a great deal of goods you won’t find elsewhere. The Buddy store in the Chicago Cultural Center is top of the heap for art-loving localvores.

A scene from the Neapolitan crèche at the Art Institute of Chicago. (Marc Vitali / WTTW News)

Ten years ago this month, a spectacular Nativity set called a crèche debuted at the Art Institute of Chicago. A gift from an Italian collector, the crèche was made in Naples and dates from the mid-1700s. It’s a traditional Nativity scene in a non-traditional setting.

“The Sunflowers Quilting Bee at Arles” by Faith Ringgold, 1991.

The new exhibition “American People” is the first solo retrospective of artist Faith Ringgold in Chicago. This vivid and revealing show is not only rare — it’s must-see.

“ICONS” features photographs by Steve McCurry. The exhibit is on display at the Loyola University Museum of Art through March 31, 2024.

A new exhibition focuses on photographs that remind us of the vastness of human culture. It’s a striking blend of art, journalism and storytelling. More than 80 large-format prints represent the career of Steve McCurry, a photography Hall of Famer and a controversial figure to some.

Museum of Contemporary Art, Gary Simmons. (Ricardo Adame)

The creators behind the city’s favorite annual spring art weekend now welcome an autumn celebration: the inaugural Chicago Exhibition Weekend. The goal is to amplify public art space, with more than 55 galleries, artist-run spaces and community institutions throughout the city.

“Science Fictions” runs through Nov. 27 at the Art Institute of Chicago. (WTTW News)

Strange people occupy fantastic places in a new exhibition of art by Remedios Varo at the Art Institute of Chicago. The 20th century surrealist painter’s work is well known in Mexico but rarely seen in the U.S.

Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art. (Celine Harrand / Flickr Creative Commons)

The increases, MCA’s first since 2017, were approved Wednesday by the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners and will affect residents and non-residents alike, though the latter is getting hit harder.

South lion at the Art Institute of Chicago. (Heather Paul / Flickr)

Leaders of both museums cited inflation and the higher cost of wages and benefits among the reasons for raising admission fees.

(WTTW News)
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Local business owners discuss implementing the policy

A public health order requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19 took effect Monday in Chicago. Let’s walk through who needs to show what, and where.