Art Insitute of Chicago partners with AU, offers free admission to the museum

Aurora University undergraduate students now have free access to nearly 300,000 works of art at one of the largest museums in the world. As a member of the University Partner Program at the Art Institute of Chicago, AU students have a chance to explore the museum’s vast collection of objects at no cost. In addition, students can visit exhibits, access archival materials, and attend lectures and performances at the museum.

“Being exposed to art allows students to understand the broader realm of culture at large,” said Mark Walter, associate professor of philosophy. “Students gain knowledge about ways of thinking, of concepts, and about how others approach and understand the world.”

Walter has incorporated optional field trips to the Art Institute as part of his freshman-level interdisciplinary studies courses, as well as in his philosophy classes. He also encourages students to visit the museum on their own. 

“Excursions into the city, especially those involving the arts, offer students a wider perspective than what they may have seen and experienced up to this point,” he said.

For Tania Hernandez ’26, viewing art up close at the museum added more visual context to what she learned in the classroom. She appreciated seeing objects from different time periods, which gave her a better understanding of how the world has transformed. 

“I saw how the fashion aesthetics changed, how defense tools and lifestyle objects changed, and was able to compare them to what we have today,” said Hernandez. “Visiting the Art Institute goes beyond a lecture, beyond history book graphics, beyond the internet.”

AU students are not only learning through the University Partner Program, but they are teaching too. Each year, the Art Institute hosts the University Partner Fest, a daylong event where students of member institutions give presentations on works of art. This past February, Emily Dutton ’25 discussed American impressionist Frank Weston Benson’s painting, “Rainy Day,” while Trey Ambrose ’24 talked about the installation “Double Sink” by American sculptor Robert Gober. 

The partnership began last fall and expanded in March when the museum hosted the first AU Day at the Art Institute of Chicago. AU students, faculty, staff, and their guests were admitted free of charge to all of the galleries and special exhibits, and took part in AU-exclusive programming.

“The visit enabled me to see the world in a new light,” said Reyna Pineda ’26. “I learned a lot by simply reading artist statements. While many artists explained their work, others left it for me to interpret. The experience enhanced my understanding and enjoyment of the art world.”