Chicago's Iconic 'Bean' Sculpture Reopens to Tourists

Visitors take photos of the "Cloud Gate" sculpture, also known as the "bean," at Millennium Park, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
Visitors take photos of the "Cloud Gate" sculpture, also known as the "bean," at Millennium Park, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
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Chicago's Iconic 'Bean' Sculpture Reopens to Tourists

Visitors take photos of the "Cloud Gate" sculpture, also known as the "bean," at Millennium Park, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
Visitors take photos of the "Cloud Gate" sculpture, also known as the "bean," at Millennium Park, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

One of Chicago's most popular tourist attractions known as “The Bean” reopened to the public Sunday after nearly a year of renovations and construction.
Construction started in August last year, and fencing around the iconic sculpture limited closeup access to visitors. The work on the plaza surrounding the sculpture included new stairs, accessible ramps and a waterproofing system, according to the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
The bean-shaped sculpture by artist Anish Kapoor is formally known as “Cloud Gate” and weighs 110 tons (99.8 metric tons).
It’s a busy tourist hub near Michigan Avenue, particularly for selfies with its reflective surface inspired by liquid mercury. Views of skyscrapers and crowds are reflected on the Millenium Park sculpture.
“Visitors can once again have full access to Chicago’s iconic Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor,” city officials said in a Sunday statement. “Come back and get your #selfie!”

One of Chicago's most popular tourist attractions known as “The Bean” reopened to the public Sunday after nearly a year of renovations and construction.
Construction started in August last year, and fencing around the iconic sculpture limited closeup access to visitors. The work on the plaza surrounding the sculpture included new stairs, accessible ramps and a waterproofing system, according to the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
The bean-shaped sculpture by artist Anish Kapoor is formally known as “Cloud Gate” and weighs 110 tons (99.8 metric tons).
It’s a busy tourist hub near Michigan Avenue, particularly for selfies with its reflective surface inspired by liquid mercury. Views of skyscrapers and crowds are reflected on the Millenium Park sculpture.
“Visitors can once again have full access to Chicago’s iconic Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor,” city officials said in a Sunday statement. “Come back and get your #selfie!”



UAE, China Seek to Boost Cultural Cooperation

UAE, China Seek to Boost Cultural Cooperation
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UAE, China Seek to Boost Cultural Cooperation

UAE, China Seek to Boost Cultural Cooperation

The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Shanghai International Arts Festival to boost cultural cooperation and understanding between the UAE and China, marking four decades of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The MoU was signed by Huda Alkhamis, Founder of ADMAF and Abu Dhabi Festival, and Li Ming, President of China Shanghai International Arts Festival, in the presence of UAE Ambassador Zhang Yiming at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi Festival and the China Shanghai International Arts Festival will collaborate on new commissions, co-productions, and cultural exchange programs for the time in the Arab world.

“This groundbreaking partnership with the China Shanghai International Arts Festival - the most influential Festival in the Asia-Pacific region - marks a historic first for the Arab world, underscoring the Abu Dhabi Festival’s pivotal role on the global stage,” Alkhamis said.

“Expanding to Shanghai allows us to harness the transformative power of the arts to build bridges, celebrate creativity, and deepen the bonds of friendship between the UAE and China,” she added.