Philadelphia Museum of Art - Information : Press Room : Press Releases : 2011

January 25th, 2011

The Museum Welcomes More Opportunities for Social Entertaining

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is pleased to announce exciting changes to its entertaining guidelines, allowing a greater range of social functions to be held in its elegant spaces. Beginning in January 2011, the Museum invites individuals from the general community, non-profit organizations, conventions, and corporations to entertain in the Museum’s Main Building, the Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building, and the Rodin Museum and Gardens.

“One of the great pleasures of the Philadelphia Museum of Art is its wonderful diversity of spaces, from the Great Stair Hair adorned with renowned tapestries designed by Peter-Paul Rubens and Pietro da Cortona and our beautiful 13th-century French cloister, to the contemporary elegance of the Perelman building with its light-filled atrium,” says Timothy Rub, the George D. Widener Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Museum. “These spaces are especially wonderful when filled with people, admiring art and engaged with each other, which is all the more reason to consider using the Museum as a setting for a special event.”

Under its new guidelines, the Museum can accommodate a number of different types of events, including engagement parties, bridal showers, graduation celebrations, anniversary dinners, and holiday functions for friends and family. As an additional benefit, Members at the Circle-Level and above, as well as Corporate Partners, receive preferred pricing and event dates. The Museum’s award-winning, exclusive caterer, Stephen STARR Events, will handle every aspect of the culinary experience, working closely with guests to customize menus and present exquisite food pairings that reflect the overall theme or tone of the gathering.

“This marks an exciting opportunity for us to create a wide variety of events in the city at venue great elegance and distinction,” said Simon Powles, President of Starr Restaurants Catering Group. “As always, our focus will be on artful presentations, fine food, and accommodating service.”

To maintain safety and security, certain events cannot be accommodated, such as wedding ceremonies and receptions, and functions for minors under the age of 18.

For more information about this new policy and to discuss a potential event, please contact the Office of Special Events at (215) 684-7310 or entertaining@philamuseum.org. For general press inquiries, kindly contact the Office of Communications at 215.684.7860 or pressroom@philamuseum.org.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest museums in the United States, with a collection of more than 227,000 works of art and more than 200 galleries presenting painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, decorative arts, textiles, and architectural settings from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Its facilities include its landmark Main Building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Perelman Building, located nearby on Pennsylvania Avenue, the Rodin Museum on the 2200 block of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and two 18th-century houses in Fairmount Park, Mount Pleasant and Cedar Grove. The Museum offers a wide variety of activities for public audiences, including special exhibitions, programs for children and families, lectures, concerts and films.

For additional information, contact the Marketing and Communications Department of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at (215) 684-7860. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 26th Street. For general information, call (215) 763-8100, or visit the Museum's website at www.philamuseum.org.