Free Admission Friday from 11am to 5pm at the Art Institute of Chicago - see INFO below. The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879, is one of the largest art museums in the world. It is based in the Art Institute of Chicago Building in Chicago's Grant Park. The Art Institute of Chicago commits to advancing racial justice now and in the future. We recognize our mission to care for and interpret our collections and our moral obligation to confront the biases and inequities of our history. More Info below.