Art and meetings in one venue
Where better to hold a meeting than within an emporium of artistic expression? Art is nonverbal communication that can spark new ideas and creativity in an individual and in a collaborative meeting. These nationally recognized art museums offer both art and event space for attendees to be inspired both personally and professionally.
Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) – California
A hidden gem in Orange County, California, is Orange County Museum of Art. With sprawling glass windows exposing large murals facing the busy traffic, attendees will be immersed in art before they ever walk in the building. For groups of up to 400, a board room, Education Pavilion, Upper Plaza and a garden terrace are available. The Upper Plaza has a full bar with glass doors leading to the terrace.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum – Oklahoma
Bring the majestic West to your event with the museum’s Sam Noble Special Event Center. The 16,500-square-foot facility features five grand landscapes by artist Wilson Hurley in the banquet hall. Each triptych depicts western destinations at sunset, the largest set of their kind in America.
Attendees can then be transported to the Wild West in the outdoor Prosperity Junction Event Space. With a fully developed “Main Street” that includes the Silver Dollar Saloon and a train depot, 150-190 guests can have an authentic old-timey Oklahoma reception.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art – Arkansas
Hugging the foothills of the Ozarks, Crystal Bridges Museum is a non-profit museum celebrating American art and the beauty of its surroundings. Wooden arches frame most of the outdoor spaces such as Tulip Tree Shelter, named after the trail of the same name, as well as the indoor spaces which have ceiling-to-floor glass for natural continuity.
This includes the museum’s restaurant space Eleven. The space is 6,119 sq. ft. with a capacity of 200-500, with Jeff Koons’s Hanging Heart providing a chandelier-esque fixture in the center. Private gallery viewings are included for all indoor space rentals.
“Proximity to art causes people to achieve better focus, to relax and to become more present.”
– Mary Benchoff, PR Coordinator, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Dallas Museum of Art – Texas
Rightfully in the center of the downtown Dallas Arts District, the Dallas Museum of Art offers elegance and culture. The Horchow Auditorium sits 300 and is equipped with AV service. Also seating 300 and able to host 600 for reception, the 3,500-square-foot Hamon Atrium is framed by Dale Chihuly glass to bring art and light into your event. For an outdoor setting of the same size capacity, be truly surrounded by art in the museum’s 48,100-square-foot sculpture garden.
Read More: Dallas: Upward and Onward
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) – California
Only a few blocks from Oakland/San Francisco Bay Bridge is the San Francisco Modern Museum of Art (SFMOMA). Offering several event spaces, attendees will be surrounded by the Bay Area’s art vibe. The Helen and Charles Schwab Hall has a capacity of 450 people, while the outdoor Howard Street Mural Alley can host 100. Large or small event, enjoy art by the bay.
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
A former New England factory is now Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA). The industrial authenticity remains while offering modern art, cuisine and 250,000 sq. ft. of gallery space available for a maximum capacity of 400 people.
Nestled against the Berkshire hills, the museum offers five gallery options for special events and meetings. One of the most popular meetings is the Robert W. Wilson Building with 130,000 sq. ft. of interior space. Attendees can enjoy the artwork in the historic 19th-century building.
This article appears in the January 2023 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
