Chances are you've taken advantage of the Art Institute's free hours on Thursdays or the MCA's gratis Tuesdays. What's better? Museums that never charge admission.
Here are eight places to get your culture on without spending a dime to get in the door (and what to see at each right now).
Location: 78 E. Washington St.
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What's on view: Archibald Motley: Jazz Age Modernist features 42 paintings by the Chicago native--and closes August 31.
Location: At Columbia College Chicago, 600 South Michigan Ave.
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
What's on view: North Korean Perspectives shows two sides to living in this country and is open through October 4.
Location: 108 N. State St., 3rd Floor
Hours: Saturday, 12 to 7 p.m.
What's on view: Catch The State of Detroit, which explores the urban landscape of the Motor City, before it closes on August 30.
Location: 2249 W. Superior St.
Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What's on view: The entire permanent folk art collection is pretty impressive, but carve out time to see the pysanky--aka intricately decorated Easter eggs.
Location: 5550 S. Greenwood Ave.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
What's on view: This University of Chicago run space is also closed until September, but find time to see Expressionist Impulses: German and Central European Art, 1890-1900, beginning on October 1.
Location: 1852 W. 19th St.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5p.m.
What's on view: Check out De vuelta: Works by Chicago Imagist Errol Ortiz, which features the puzzle-like paintings of the Chicago artist, through March 13, 2016.
Location: 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave., 2nd Floor
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What's on view: Stop by to see the ongoing exhibition The Things They Carried, which features ephemera from the soldiers who lived through the narratives in Tim O'Brien's book of the same name.
Location: 935 W. Fullerton
Hours: Wednesday & Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
What's on view: OK, DPAM is closed until September 9, but when it reopens, be sure to see The Andy Archetype: Works from the Permanent Collection, which will feature works by Andy Warhol alongside other pieces from the museum's collection.
Location: Anywhere
Hours: Anytime
What's on view: Take a stroll to see street art and murals all over this fine city.
