Athenaeum Theatre

Art & Community in Chicago

At The Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture, we believe that beauty has the capacity to build up culture, transform society, and change lives. We hope to help you contemplate, encounter, and delight in beauty.

The History

The Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture is located in Chicago's historic Lakeview neighborhood.

The Athenaeum was originally founded by the Redemptorist Fathers of St. Alphonsus, as "a home for the intellectual, physical, and social intercourse" of their parishioners. Since its opening in 1911, the Athenaeum has continually served as a place for beauty, community, and the arts. It is Chicago's oldest continuously operating Off-Loop theatre.