Obama Center Will Open for Juneteenth

The grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago will commence on June 18, with the campus opening on Juneteenth. This marks the public inauguration of the institution, featuring its museum component, which is set to explore themes of art and storytelling.

Unlike traditional U.S. presidential libraries, the center is designed more like a public civic campus. It will include thje Obama Presidential Museum, a public gathering and event space for talks, community meetings, and cultural programs called the Forum, a library operated by the Chicago Public Library and outdoor public spaces and gardens.

The Presidential Center has commissioned more than 25 site-specific artworks for its campus, including pieces by Nick Cave, Jenny Holzer, Mark Bradford and Carrie Mae Weems among others.