By Holly Hill-Brooks, manager of catering, rentals and events, and Jessica Elliott, rental and events coordinator

Jessica Elliott, rental and events coordinator, left, and Holly Hill-Brooks, manager of catering, rentals and events, right, can arrange your next special event at the Eiteljorg. The Allen Whitehill Clowes Sculpture Court is an outstanding space for wedding receptions and corporate events.
Image courtesy of Brittany Erwin Photography

Beyond its fascinating art exhibitions and engaging public programs, the Eiteljorg Museum is an impressive building with beautiful event spaces that you can rent for corporate events, weddings and other special occasions. Here are questions clients often ask in booking event spaces at the Eiteljorg:

We see downtown Indianapolis booming with corporate, medical and educational organizations. There are a lot of opportunities to host unique events for these groups. How does the Eiteljorg show its versatility in accommodating various groups?
Our location is key. With the Eiteljorg Museum located on the canal in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, we are surrounded by growing universities and other organizations within the White River State Park area. We are also within convenient walking distance of several downtown hotels.
Since the expansion of the museum’s Clowes Sculpture Court ballroom, we can accommodate larger groups where we hold numerous conferences, seminars, retreats and receptions. We can easily handle groups from five to 1,000 and accommodate various room layouts such as classroom, theater and banquet styles — we do it all!

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming for couples when there are so many potential venues and options. What are the advantages of booking a wedding or reception at the Eiteljorg Museum with its in-house caterer, Kahn’s Catering?
We are here to make your decision easy. The Eiteljorg not only has great indoor spaces, but also offers gorgeous — and private — outdoor spaces along the canal in our DeHaan Family Terrace and Gardens. This makes it fun and easy to add on unique experiences such as paddle boat adventures or a gondola ride send-off. You can even add a pop of color to your outdoor event through uplighting The Sails above our terrace.
When you rent with the Eiteljorg, you will always work closely with one of us on the rentals team as well as a Kahn’s catering specialist to help facilitate your planning along the way. As we help you bring your event to life, Kahn’s will create menus for your specific needs. And when your special day arrives, we will be right there to help.

What special touches does the Eiteljorg offer to make for an outstanding occasion?
We are a museum, and we want you to explore and experience our galleries. We offer self-guided or guided tours with the help of the museum’s knowledgeable volunteer Guides. For you and your guests, the Eiteljorg is one of the few venues in the downtown area that offers free parking (on a first-come, first-serve basis).

What is the best way to learn about how the Eiteljorg could serve as the venue for someone’s event?
We would be delighted to provide a personal tour of our rental spaces. To book a tour, or to learn more about what our spaces have to offer, please visit Eiteljorg.org/Rental. Follow us on Instagram @eiteljorg_events to stay posted on Eiteljorg Rentals.

At the Eiteljorg Museum, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Sculpture Court and other spaces can be rented for events and special occasions.
Image courtesy of Brittany Erwin Photography

This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Storyteller magazine.