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Private Rentals and Events
To enquire about rentals or schedule a walkthrough, please complete a Rental Request Form, or reach out to Guest Services Team Lead – Events, Luke Immins at lbimmins@uchicago.edu.
In opening our spaces up to private rentals, we aim to foster an environment where a spirit of community, celebration, and deep engagement with the visual arts can flourish. The museum has hosted book launches, birthdays, weddings, alumni reunions, fundraisers, banquets, and more. As a major cultural institution serving both Hyde Park and Chicago more widely, rentals at the Smart Museum provide an opportunity to forge and deepen connections between local communities and the organizations that serve them.
OUR SPACES
THE LOBBY
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Set between the galleries and home to installation artworks commissioned as part of the museum’s Threshold series, the lobby provides a versatile and light-filled space, well-suited for receptions, seated dinners, lectures, or performances.
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Size: 1200² ft
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Capacity: 100-240, depending on layout
The Courtyard
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A modern take on the University of Chicago’s classic quadrangles, the Courtyard is a private, airy hideaway from the bustle of North Campus. Home to contemporary sculpture by notable American and European artists, the space is ideal for larger receptions, galas, and special events.
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Size: 9250² ft
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Capacity: 200
What's Included?
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All rentals include:
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On-site Smart Museum support staff for the duration of your event, including set-up and tear down
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Full access to the Smart Museum’s furniture inventory
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Full access to the Smart Museum’s A/V inventory
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Preferred Caterers
- Lula Cafe
- Catering Info: https://www.lulacafe.com/catering-and-events/
- Contact: Anna Heerwagen, Director of Catering & Events
- events@lulacafe.com
- Chartwells
- Catering Info: https://uchicagocatering.catertrax.com/
- Contact: Katherine Piotrowski, Senior Catering Sales Manager
- katherine.piotrowski@compass-usa.com