Always FREE & Open to the Public
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Always FREE and Open to the Public
Contact
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Host Your Event

To inquire about rentals or schedule a walk-through, please complete a Rental Request Form, or reach out to our Events Guest Services Team Lead, Faizan Hasnain, at [email protected].

By 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 of Art provide an opportunity to forge and deepen connections between local communities and the organizations that serve them.

Our Spaces
The Lobby
  • 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.
  • Size: 1,200 sq. ft.
  • Capacity: 100–240, depending on layout
Our Spaces
The Courtyard
  • 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.
  • Size: 9,250 sq. ft.
  • Capacity: 200

What’s Included?

  • On-site Smart Museum of Art support staff for the duration of your event, including set up and tear down
  • Full access to the Smart’s furniture inventory
  • Full access to the Smart’s A/V inventory

Preferred Caterers

Lula Cafe

Chartwells