Art Institute of Chicago and Wheaton
Wheaton College is privileged to be a member of the Art Institute of Chicago's prestigious University Partner Program.
Through this partnership Wheaton College students, both undergraduate and graduate, can enjoy complimentary admission to the Art Institute of Chicago any day of the year. Students only need to show their Wheaton College ID when walking into the Art Institute and will be granted access. The Art Institute provides many enriching opportunities for students including workshops, curator-led tours, and internships.
The partnership also provides two days a year (Wheaton Days at the Art Institute) where everyone with a Wheaton College ID, including students, faculty, and staff can attend the Art Institute for free. Wheaton Days at the Art Institute, allow anyone with a Wheaton College ID to bring nine guests with complimentary admission.
The Art Institute has a wide selection of galleries and is rated among the top Art Museums in the world. Explore more opportunities through their official website.
Saturday, October, 11 2025 | 11:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Wheaton College Day at the Art Institute
PLUS: A “Sketchy” Tour of the Art Institute with David Hooker and Taylor Worley’s Museum Highlights tour
Visit the Art Institute of Chicago for a free day of art and exclusive opportunities!
- Complimentary admission for Wheaton College students, staff, faculty, and guests.
- Skip the line and register at the Wheaton College Day registration table in the Art Institute’s Michigan Avenue lobby, located at 111 South Michigan Avenue, anytime between 11:00 and 4:00.
Join art faculty for a tour through the Art Institute, two tour options are available for this event.
A “Sketchy” Tour of the Art Institute with David Hooker
Meet on the first floor of the Modern Wing near the grand staircase at 2:00 p.m. Did you know that the since the Art Institute is a teaching museum, they allow you to sketch there?
Bring a sketchbook and a pencil (no pens allowed) and join us for a day of sketching at the Art Institute. We will use drawing as a way to engage more deeply with some of the masterworks on display. You may discover that drawing the works gives you deeper insight and appreciation of the art.
No drawing experience necessary! We will give you a few prompts and pointers to get you started. And we promise you don’t have to share your drawings with us if you don’t want to.
Taylor Worley’s Museum Highlights Tour
This tour will provide a mindful, slow-looking take on the museum highlights tour. Starting at the bottom of the staircase in the Modern Wing at 2:00 p.m. this tour will meander through numerous galleries where you will view well known favorites as well as the hidden gems in the museum’s collection.
Show a Wheaton College student or staff ID to receive tickets for you and guests (10 tickets maximum). Please visit artic.edu for a full listing of exhibitions and information on parking and public transportation. Call (312) 443-3541 to learn more.