Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art. (Celine Harrand / Flickr Creative Commons)
The Museum of Contemporary Art has become the latest Chicago cultural institution to raise its admission fees in 2023.
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.
Gwen Perry Davis, the museum’s chief operating officer, told commissioners the new fees are in line with comparable institutions including the Adler Planetarium and Chicago History Museum.
Among the reasons cited as the need for the increase: In 2022, MCA transitioned part-time staff into full-time positions with benefits, she said.
Admission is still free for children under 18, and MCA will continue its policy of allowing visitors to choose to pay less than the “suggested” admission price, she said.
For Chicagoans, admission will be $10 for students and seniors, up from $8; and $19 for adults, up from $15.
For non-residents, admission will be $14 for students and seniors, up from $8; and $22 for adults, up from $15.
The new fee structure will take effect in July.
In January, fee increases were approved for the Nature Museum and Field Museum, and in April, the Park District board OK’d increases for the Art Institute and Museum of Science and Industry, both of which only raised admission for out-of-towners.
Board President Myetie Hamilton urged MCA, as she has all other museums, to consider adding more free days on weekends, when more people could take advantage of the offer.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
