Art Institute partners with India

CHICAGO — The government of India is forming a professional partnership with the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Art Institute will host an Indian delegation on Saturday to sign an agreement for the Vivekananda Memorial Program for Museum Excellence. The $500,000 grant honors Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda, who spoke in 1893 at the Art Institute during the World's Columbian Exposition. The Art Institute says it's the first U.S. museum to receive a grant from India.

The goal of the four-year program is to foster a professional partnership between the Art Institute and museums in India. During the four years the Art Institute will send staff members to India for workshops, seminars, lectures and courses. The Art Institute also will host fellowships in Chicago for Indian museum professionals.