HR0352 LRB096 12572 GRL 25833 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, On February 18, 2009, the Executive Committee of
3 the Art Institute of Chicago voted to increase the general
4 admission fees at the Art Institute of Chicago; and
 
5     WHEREAS, On March 11, 2009, the Chicago Park District
6 Committee on Programs and Recreation voted to recommend that
7 the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners enter an order
8 authorizing a change in the general admission fees at the Art
9 Institute of Chicago, effective May 23, 2009; and
 
10     WHEREAS, On March 11, 2009, as required under Illinois law,
11 the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners entered an
12 order authorizing a fifty percent (50%) increase of the adult
13 general admission fee, from $12 to $18; and
 
14     WHEREAS, The Board of Commissioners also authorized a
15 seventy-one percent (71%) increase of the senior and student
16 general admission fee, from $7 to $12; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Less than three years ago, admission to the Art
18 Institute of Chicago was free, as the Art Institute merely
19 "suggested" that visitors make a donation; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Currently, a family of four, with two student

 

 

HR0352 - 2 - LRB096 12572 GRL 25833 r

1 children over twelve years of age, would pay $38 for admission
2 to the Art Institute of Chicago; and
 
3     WHEREAS, On May 23, 2009, after the general admission fee
4 increase becomes effective, it will cost $60 for that same
5 family to gain admission to the Art Institute of Chicago; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Unlike the Museum of Science and Industry, the
7 Field Museum of Natural History, and the Shedd Aquarium, the
8 Art Institute of Chicago does not offer a reduced general
9 admission fee for Chicago residents; and
 
10     WHEREAS, The Art Institute of Chicago, which, in 2008,
11 received $6.7 million in funding from the Chicago Park
12 District, is directly subsidized by City of Chicago taxpayers;
13 and
 
14     WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council seeks to ensure that all
15 Chicago residents, including those on modest budgets, have the
16 ability to access one of America's premier art museums; and
 
17     WHEREAS, The residents of the City of Chicago, who
18 subsidize the Art Institute of Chicago through the payment of
19 property taxes, should have their support acknowledged and
20 rewarded with a reduced resident admission fee; therefore, be
21 it
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
3 urge the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners to repeal
4 the increase of the general admission fees approved on March
5 11, 2009; and be it further
 
6     RESOLVED, That we further urge the Chicago Park District
7 Board of Commissioners to order the Art Institute of Chicago to
8 implement a reduced general admission fee for Chicago
9 residents; and be it further
 
10     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11 presented to Gery J. Chico, President of the Chicago Park
12 District Board of Commissioners.