Royal Ontario Museum

The museum rents gallery and event spaces mainly for evening events, with some rooms available in the daytime.

About the venue

Chen Crystal Court is a four-storey skylit atrium with a dinosaur skeleton on display. Catering is limited to three authorized exclusive caterers. The Eaton Theatre has 288 fixed seats. During the OpenROM construction project the Bloor Street entrance is closed and the Queen’s Park entrance remains open.

On EventPlans.ca it is listed as a museum or gallery in Toronto, at 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6.

Event spaces

The venue lists these spaces. Capacities are the venue’s own figures and change with the layout you choose.

• Hyacinth Gloria Chen Crystal Court and Samuel Hall Currelly Gallery (booked together): 1,100 cocktail / 550 dinner
• Signy & Cléophée Eaton Theatre: 300 auditorium (288 fixed seats)
• Full Level 2 incl. Rotunda Mezzanine: 1,000 cocktail
• Philosopher’s Gallery: 200 cocktail / 200 dinner
• John David & Signy Eaton Court: 130 cocktail / 100 dinner
• RBC Foundation Glass Room: 130 cocktail / 100 dinner
• c5 Lounge: 130 cocktail / 100 lunch or dinner
• Entire Museum: 2,500 cocktail reception

Capacity

The venue publishes a maximum of 550 seated, 2,500 standing reception, 300 theatre style. Those are top figures for an empty room. A dance floor, a stage, a buffet or a photo booth each take space, so plan on fewer guests than the maximum once your layout is drawn.

A useful rule: a seated dinner at rounds of ten needs about 1 to 1.2 square metres per guest, a standing reception about 0.7, and theatre seating about 0.6, before you add a stage or dance floor. The venue capacity calculator does the arithmetic for your room.

Events it hosts

According to its own event pages, the venue hosts corporate events, galas and fundraisers and private social events.

For timelines, budgets and checklists, start with the corporate holiday party hub, gala planning hub.

Questions to ask on your site visit

Bring these to your walk-through. Get the answers in writing before you sign.

• Which galleries are open to guests during the event, and which must stay closed?
• Are there rules on food, red wine, candles or flowers near the collection?
• What is the earliest set-up time after the public closes?
• Must you use the in-house caterer, and is security staffing included?
• Are there height, haze or fog restrictions near the artwork?
• Can guests take photos in all spaces?

Planning entertainment here

Museums often limit haze, open flame and anything that could touch the collection. Close-up magic, string players and roaming performers usually fit easily; ask before booking anything with fire or confetti.

Send every performer’s technical needs to the venue before you book: floor space, ceiling height, power, sound and changing room.

Getting there

Check the venue website for directions, parking rates and accessible entrances, and send the details to guests with the invitation.

Official website: rom.on.ca/venue-rentals