Cultural Developments in Chicago: Museum Closures, New Exhibitions, and Theater Updates
Multiple cultural developments occurred in Chicago on March 24, 2026. The DePaul Art Museum faces potential closure, with faculty advocating for a pause to seek external funding. Wrightwood 659 announced 'Martin Wong: Chinatown USA,' an exhibition exploring Chinatowns as cultural landscapes, opening April 17. Congo Square Theatre dissolved, with funds redirected to Victory Gardens Theater, while Steppenwolf revived its new play program with a Sondheim Foundation grant. Architect Jeanne Gang received the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Architecture. Other news includes a lawsuit over frozen transit funds, a speculative stadium proposal, and the opening of a new Astor Club location.
Key facts
- DePaul Art Museum closure decision faces pushback from faculty seeking funding alternatives.
- Wrightwood 659 presents 'Martin Wong: Chinatown USA' exhibition starting April 17.
- Congo Square Theatre dissolved, with $240,000 given to Victory Gardens Theater.
- Steppenwolf relaunches new play program with a grant from the Stephen Sondheim Foundation.
- Jeanne Gang awarded the 2026 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Architecture.
Entities
Artists
- Martin Wong
- Tonika Lewis Johnson
- Karen Glaser
- David Byrne
- William Cee Williams
Institutions
- DePaul Art Museum
- Wrightwood 659
- Congo Square Theatre
- Victory Gardens Theater
- Steppenwolf
- Goodman Theatre
- Definition Theatre
- University of Virginia School of Architecture
Locations
- Chicago
- San Francisco
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Twin Cities