Chicago Cultural Center: Bringing the art world to Chicago
Chicago is a culturally diverse city, so it makes sense to have a center dedicated to the arts. Completed in 1897 and originally a library, the Center offers free movies, admission and art exhibits year round and even performs civil ceremonies.
Not a lot is typically free in the city on a daily basis, but the Center dedicates itself to bringing the best to the masses. The biggest draws are the two domes inhabiting two of the four floors in the building. In 2008, the world’s largest Tiffany glass dome (38 feet in diameter and comprised of 30,000 pieces of glass) was restored, and it’s quite awe-inspiring looking up and staring at the masterpiece.
The architecture is one aspect to the Center. Mother-of-Pearl and mosaic material are embedded in the marble staircases and a second dome lurks on the north side of the building made from over 50,000 pieces of glass.
Rotating art exhibits, a gift shop, a dance studio, a theatre and the Randolph Café resides on the first floor. The Café sells coffee, sandwiches and other sundries and leads into the Publishers Gallery which is divided into reading and writing rooms containing a collection of 2,300 books and periodicals from Illinois writers and publishers.
Other notable rooms include Project Onward, which houses arts and crafts made from the mentally disabled, and the Chicago Landmark Gallery with framed black and white photos of famous Chicago buildings hanging on the walls. The Center is also home to several administrative offices like the Office of Tourism, Cultural Affairs and a Visitor’s Center. Every year the Center hosts hundreds of gratis concerts from musicians from all over the world, screens free international movies and hosts various lectures and discussions.
HelloChicago Tip: The Center is also one of the few places in the city to have a nice wedding ceremony for an affordable price. Civil weddings are performed by the marriage court of Cook County for only $10 and rental for private ceremonies are also available.
Posted by Garin Pirnia
