With general admission is scheduled to rise at the Art Institute of Chicago to $18 from $12 on May 23, Ald. Ed Burke is trying to compel the museum to increase its free hours by enforcing an ordinance from 1891. Burke wants the Art Institute to revert to offering 2 ½ free days weekly, but the Art Institute claims it already exceeds the “free hour” requirement.

Burke said Monday that city lawyers believe the 1891 agreement between the Art Institute and Chicago remains valid even though the museum has long since moved to the Park District’s jurisdiction. The 1891 contract, which established that the Michigan Avenue building would be erected for the city’s use during the 1893 Columbian Exposition before being taken over by the museum, specified that the Art Institute would offer free admission on Wednesdays, Saturdays and a half-day on Sundays.

The Institute currently offers free admission on Thursday nights as well as Friday summer nights and all of February.

More from The Chicago Tribune.

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