Raising the Bar

A few weeks ago I attended another library conference –I’ve lost track of how many there have been through the years – but as I sipped my wine at the Billings Farm Museum, I thought about the number of museum venues that have hosted these events. I’ve enjoyed canapes with dinosaurs (New Haven CT), cable cars (San Francisco), Native American art (Portland OR), pueblos (NM), mummies (Chicago), Jimi Hendrix (Cleveland), and watched the constellations over Glasgow from the comfortable seats of the ScottishPower Planetarium while enjoying a very nice single malt.

Financial necessity has led many museums and historical properties to rent their facilities for events ranging from corporate receptions, scout troop sleepovers and weddings. While these are potentially lucrative, significant risks are associated with hosting special events. The Jewish Museum in N.Y. noticed a Marc Chagall was missing after a cocktail party for singles. A glass sculpture was broken during a party at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago. A museum that often hosted overnight events for children had unknowingly hired a convicted sex offender for the maintenance crew.

Is it worth the risk? I think the answer depends on the kind of space the museum can allocate. If the exhibits are in cases, or otherwise protected, then the museum not only gains revenue but reaches a new audience as well. What do you think?