This ambitious project will be the first to reunite many of the greatest works from the Benin Kingdom, now housed in museum collections across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Nigeria. The Art Institute of Chicago is the only American venue for this exceptional, eye-opening, once-in-a-lifetime exhibition.
Members of the Nigerian royal family will be here as the exhibit opens on Tuesday, July 8. To celebrate the opening of the major African art exhibit, the Leadership Advisory Committee (LAC) of the Art Institute of Chicago will present "A Royal Gala." Proceeds from this event will support a professional development exchange between the Art Institute and Nigerian cultural institutions, as well as local programs for the Benin exhibition and future LAC initiatives.
The gala evening features a fusion of African and African American food, music, and décor. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with an exhibition viewing and a cocktail buffet; Nigerian dignitaries will join guests for a special program at 8:00 p.m.; and finally guests will enjoy a music, dancing and dessert reception throughout the museum beginning at 9:00 p.m.
Individual tickets to "A Royal Gala" are $200 per person. The evening includes a reception, exhibition viewing and program. Sponsor tickets to "A Royal Gala" are $1,000 per person and include an exclusive curator led tour of the exhibition and a private dinner with international dignitaries and lenders. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Art Institute of Chicago by calling (312) 499-4163 or by e-mailing egilbert@artic.edu
Museum Summer Hours:
From Memorial Day to Labor Day
- 10:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
- 10:30 a.m.- 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday
- 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday
- Target free summer evenings Thursday and Friday after 5 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $12.00; children 12 and over, students, and seniors, $7.00; children under 12 free; members always free. Free Evenings are free to all, except for certain special exhibitions that may require full or extra admission fee. City of Chicago residents with Chicago Public Library cards can borrow a "Check Us Out" card from any library branch for free general admission to the nine members of Museums in the Park, including the Art Institute of Chicago.
To reach the Art Institute on the World Wide Web, contact us at www.artic.edu/aic
The Art Institute of Chicago is a museum in Chicago's Grant Park, located across from Millennium Park.
