When it comes to event venues, the options are plentiful. You can go the traditional, seasoned route, mix it up with a semi-private restaurant space, or opt for a nontraditional venue. There’s one type that’s a shoe-in when it comes to those in search of a captivating, eye-catching venue: museums.
What is it that makes museums the perfect choice for an event venue? We wanted to find out the answer to that question and more, so we reached out to Melissa Grace, director of marketing, communications, and sales at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in Oregon. We chatted with her about some of the benefits of hosting events at museums — read on to find out more.
One of the obvious reasons to host an event at a museum is the built-in artifacts, artworks or other conversation starters that are already onsite. “Each building or space has something that really makes it interesting and a one-of-a-kind space,” Melissa explains. “The Aviation & Space Museum together have a total of 130 artifacts on display.”
Customers looking to book a large event, especially in a shorter time frame, will be pleasantly surprised by museums. Many have large, ballroom-size spaces to accommodate bigger guest lists. On the flip side, they’re also a great option if you’re looking to host a more intimate affair. This is because most have smaller exhibition or private rooms, so there’s no pressure to spread people out to fill a larger space.
Not only can museums work with a variety of events — Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum has hosted everything from 10-person tours, dinner parties and weddings to fundraisers, family gatherings and receptions — but their available hours are flexible as well. “We have events during the day, but after the museum is closed to the public we have the capacity in each museum facility for up to 1,000 people,” says Melissa. “We also rent out the Wings & Waves Waterpark, the Evergreen Chapel and have a 3D digital theater with over 230 seats ideal for presentations, watching movies or gatherings of any sort.”
Depending on the museum type, you can choose to either play off of the existing decor and artwork, or make the space all your own. Some museums offer whitespace rooms that can accommodate hanging art or signs, small rugs, and other personal touches. Others, however, require the artwork or items to be left as-is. Whichever your preference, it’s likely you’ll find a space that can work with you to meet your needs.
The more unique the venue, the more memorable your event is bound to be. “Museums are great because they’re not a traditional ballroom or room with paintings on the walls,” adds Melissa. “We have had hundreds of weddings and not one was the same — different planes in the background, dance floors, bands, themes, and colors. What makes each museum so incredible is the history and how it can become a part of your event.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!
Now that you’re in the know about the latest nontraditional venues, request a live tour to see if Tripleseat is right for yours!
Editors note: This post originally appeared on the Gather blog.