We don't allow rental uses of our house except photography.  For our own
use, we have had receptions in the house, but all food and drink is served
outside on the porch or in our docents room.   We find that there is a
clear conflict in any single room, between being a museum and being a
rental facility.  The local houses with successful rental programs have had
to "harden" the rooms used for the rentals by removing small artifacts, and
original or fragile furnishings.  Removing artifacts or placing them behind
glass seems to us to make us a poorer museum.

We have an active wedding rental program, but that uses on the lawn and
pool house only.

We present our house as a living history site, so food is allowed in the
kitchen were we cook on our wood burning stove, but isn't allowed to
migrate to the rest of the house (this is an ongoing supervision problem)

Randy Hees
Patterson House at Ardenwood Farm
Fremont CA





> [Original Message]
> From: Christian Carr <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 10/15/03 6:01:54 AM
> Subject: Receptions in Historic Houses-Yes or No?
>
> Hello, all--I would really appreciate it if you could weigh in about the
issue
> of holding receptions with food and drink in historic house museums.  If
you
> allow this, how do you handle it?  Do you restrict it just to one room?
How do
> you maneuver around fully furnished rooms?  Do you have space dedicated to
> entertaining?  Have there been situations where the house or furnishings
have
> been comprimised as a result?
>
> If you do not allow receptions inside the house, please tell me why: have
you
> got an alternative venue where you can entertain donors or members?
>
> My personal position is that this a can of worms I don't want to open,
but I
> have been asked to solicit the policies of other historic house museums.
At
> this point, we do allow weddings and other receptions on the grounds,
under a
> tent (heated if need be).
>
> I really look forward to your responses--thank you in advance for your
> assistance.
>
> All best,
>
> Christian Carr
> Acting Director, Sweet Briar Museum
> Assistant Professor, Arts Management
> Sweet Briar College
> Sweet Briar, VA 24595
> 434.381.6246-phone
> 434.381.6132-fax
>
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