Take Back Chicago Protests at the Art Institute
Rachel Hewitt
On Monday, October 10th, The Futures Industry Association held an opening reception to kick off their annual expo at the Art Institute of Chicago, apparently a repeat expo event at AIC. This opening reception marks the start of several days of meetings for the finance industry. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s annual national conference also takes place this week. Several thousand members of the public were there to greet them. The mass mobilization called Take Back Chicago, made up of labor and community organizations, marched from five downtown locations including two hotels where meetings will be held, the Hyatt Regency which is currently under boycott by UNITE HERE for various offenses against its workers and Hilton Chicago, convening at the Art Institute where the opening reception was held.
The actions were organized to “stand [sp] up to the big banks and corporations that wrecked our economy and plunged so many working people into unemployment and poverty, while raking in record profits. And we’re working together in order to reclaim our lost jobs, stop the unfair foreclosures, and make sure our schools get the resources they need to prepare our children for a brighter future.” People from a variety of backgrounds were in attendance, including activists affiliated with the Occupy Chicago movement, and even members of the SAIC community.
Protestors, amid a heavy police presence, stood outside the Modern Wing at the Art Institute, chanting, performing, and shouting “shame” at the traders ensconced on the rooftop terrace, demanding an end to rampant economic inequality, foreclosures, bank bailouts, and the theft of money from public education.
Obviously the sale of event rentals plays a large part in a high caliber museum’s income, and inevitably offsets other costs, ostensibly even keeping admissions low (although one could hardly call AIC’s $18 ticket price low), and obviously it’s no surprise that the type of organization that can afford event rental isn’t going to be a tiny non-profit. However, perhaps an institution such as the Art Institute of Chicago, which as we discussed in a previous article, like all museums accredited by the American Association of Museums, must (in theory) be focused on public service and not on financial gain, should consider whether the relationships they build with the finance community truly best serves its interests, and is reflective of its mission and goals.
Other actions related to Take Back Chicago are planned for this week.
