The Obama Presidential Center is just days away from welcoming visitors in Chicago, and the Obama Foundation has unveiled an impressive lineup of performers for its invite-only dedication ceremony on June 18.
Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Bono and The Edge, Eddie Vedder, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Common, John Legend, Marc Anthony, The Roots, and Tems are all set to take the stage. Youth organizations Uniting Voices and Guitars Over Guns will also be part of the celebration.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT on June 18 at John Lewis Plaza, located at 6001 South Stony Island Avenue in Jackson Park. Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama are both expected to address attendees during the event.
Sharing the vision behind the celebration, Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett emphasized the day’s uplifting message.
“This Grand Opening ceremony will be unlike any other, filled with music, performances, and hope,” Jarrett said. “The Grand Opening Ceremony will reflect a spirit of inspiration and joy, with a big boost from the performers who are sharing their talent with us. We hope to inspire people everywhere to believe in their power to bring change home.”
Situated on a nearly 20-acre campus in Jackson Park near Woodlawn, the Obama Presidential Center is being billed as the nation’s first fully digital presidential library, featuring interactive exhibits and immersive technology throughout the space.
Visitors will also be able to view The Obamas: Springing Forth, a portrait of Barack and Michelle Obama created by Nigerian-born artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby. Located in the museum lobby and accessible without a ticket, the artwork weaves together imagery from the Civil Rights Movement, notable Chicago landmarks, and the Obamas’ family history. Among its many details is a reference to Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book, the first album Michelle Obama ever owned.
The center officially opens to the public on Juneteenth, with a series of open-house events scheduled to continue through June 21.
