THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO NAMES NEW BUILDING "THE MODERN WING"

Museum Secures 70 Percent of Building of the Century Capital Campaign Goal More Than Three Years in Advance of Opening

$14 Million Given by John D. and Alexandra C. Nichols for Bridge Linking Art Institute with Millennium Park

December 16, 2005

MEDIA CONTACT:                 
Carrie Heinonen
(312) 443-3624

Chai Lee
(312) 443-3625

James Cuno, president and Eloise W. Martin Director of the Art Institute of Chicago, announced today that leading donors to the museum have given more than $50 million to name the museum's new building, designed by Pritzker Prize-winner Renzo Piano, the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago after the progressive spirit of the city--the birthplace of modern architecture--and in recognition of the museum's renowned collection of modern art and Chicago's deep and abiding sense of pride in its civic institutions.

"This is a great Chicago story," said Cuno. "What other city would have donors insist that its museum's new wing be named in honor of the city's defining characteristic?   Chicago is America's modern city, an optimistic city that never takes no for an answer and makes no small plans. We are proud that our Board of Trustees has made the decision to name our new building the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. The name, much like the collections in the wing's galleries and the quality of its architecture, will forever be modern -- perpetually new and exciting -- like the city of Chicago itself."

The Art Institute also announced today that the Capital Campaign has raised more than $250 million of the total campaign goal of $350 million -- more than any other cultural institution has raised in a capital campaign in the history of Chicago. Of the $250 million raised to-date, more than $200 million are gifts from the museum's Trustees.

"The unprecedented success of our Building of the Century Capital Campaign is a sign of confidence in our museum, its mission, and the purpose of our new wing, which will house one of the top three modern art collections in the world," said Cuno.  

Since breaking ground on May 31, 2005, the Art Institute has received commitments of $80 million, including $14 million from John D. and Alexandra C. Nichols to build the bridge that will connect the Modern Wing to the heart of Millennium Park.

"The new bridge, elegantly designed by Renzo Piano, will link the museum to Millennium Park, Chicago's newest icon and the place where Chicago's neighborhoods meet," said Cuno.

John H. Bryan, chairman of the Board of Trustees, adds: "This is a historic occasion. The intentions of our donors have been embraced by the leadership of our campaign. We have tremendous momentum as we turn the corner and advance toward the final $100 million of our campaign. We are confident that we will meet, and with the help of our extended family of friends and members, even exceed our goal of $350 million for the advancement of the Art Institute's mission as Chicago's great encyclopedic art museum."

The Modern Wing, scheduled to open in spring 2009, will in effect be a new museum--increasing the square footage of the Art Institute by 35 percent and adding 260,000 square feet to the museum's facility. It will be the largest museum building Piano has ever designed.

The Modern Wing will be home to the Art Institute's collections of modern art and architecture--which are comparable only to those of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Pompidou Centre in Paris--and collections of contemporary art. No other encyclopedic museum in the United States or any other country has collections of modern and contemporary art to rival those of the Art Institute.