Chicago Athenaeum facts for kids
| Established | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Location | 601 S Prospect St, Galena, IL 61036 |
The Chicago Athenaeum is a special museum that teaches people about architecture and design. It's located in Galena, Illinois. This museum helps everyone understand how good design, from buildings to everyday products, can make our world a better place. They also give out many important awards for great designs.
History of the Museum
The Chicago Athenaeum started in Chicago in 1988. Later, it moved to Schaumburg, Illinois in 1998. In 2004, the museum found its current home in Galena, Illinois. The building in Galena used to be an old brewery!
When the museum was in Schaumburg, it was in an old barn. It also had a special outdoor area called an International Sculpture Park. This park showed cool works of contemporary art (modern art). Even though the museum moved, the sculpture park is still there today, behind the Prairie Center for the Arts.
What the Museum Does
The main goal of the Chicago Athenaeum is to help people learn more about architecture and design. They want everyone to see how these fields can make our surroundings and our lives better. The museum has held many exhibitions about architecture and design in different countries. It also runs several international programs around the world.
Today, the museum has offices and operations in Chicago, Schaumburg, and Galena, Illinois. It also has locations in Dublin, Ireland and Athens, Greece.
Awards and Recognition
Since 1996, the museum has organized the yearly Good Design Awards. These awards celebrate excellent designs in many different areas. The museum also helps organize other important awards, such as:
- The American Architecture Awards
- The American Prize for Architecture
- The International Architecture Awards
- The Green Good Design Awards (for environmentally friendly designs)
Who Runs the Museum
The president of the museum is Christian Narkiewicz-Laine. Loannis Karalias is the vice president, and he is also the chief curator and director of design. Lary Sommers is the director of administration. Kieran Conlon is the director in Europe and the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
