DePaul University has announced the permanent closure of the DePaul Art Museum (DPAM) in Chicago, effective June 30. The decision comes as the private university faces severe financial strain, including a $27.4 million budget deficit that has already led to significant staff layoffs. While the university plans to convene discussions on how the museum's building and its 4,000-object collection might serve future academic needs, the institution as a public-facing museum will cease operations following its final exhibitions in March.
The closure represents a significant blow to the Chicago art ecosystem, where DPAM was recognized for its nimble programming and commitment to social justice. Under its Latinx Initiative and focus on Chicago Imagists, the museum provided a critical platform for underrepresented artists and local figures like Dawoud Bey and Angel Otero. This move follows a troubling national trend of universities shuttering museums or liquidating collections to offset institutional debt, raising concerns about the stability of academic art institutions.