Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

As a VENUE: Host your event…

Let the Wadsworth Atheneum’s grand beaux-arts and classic modern galleries form the backdrop for your next corporate or organization dinner party, cocktail reception, seminar, or meeting. With masterpieces of European and American art gracing the walls, set within a historically and architecturally significant building, your guests will experience an event to be remembered. What’s more, the museum’s downtown location provides a central gathering place with multiple spaces to suit a wide-variety of special event and meeting needs.  Eight distinctive spaces are available:

• Avery Court: International Style Avery Court features a spectacular skylight and views of upper gallery balconies that create an atmosphere of air, light and space symbolizing the freedom of 20th century art and architecture. This revolutionary interior was completed in 1934, in time to present America’s first comprehensive Pablo Picasso exhibition in Avery Court. A Venus fountain created in 1600 by artist Pietro Francavilla is the centerpiece of this gallery and is considered the finest Italian mannerist sculpture in America. Invite your guests to dine in the presence of Venus and the art of European Modern masters such as Salvador Dalí, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso, and Edvard Munch.
  • Capacity: Reception – 350 guests; Seated Dinner – 200 guests

• Morgan Great Hall: Housed within the Morgan Building donated by Hartford born financier J. Pierpont Morgan in 1915, Morgan Great Hall showcases classic beaux-arts architecture that boasts 50-foot vaulted ceilings and elegant moldings throughout. Impress your guests in the grandeur of this architecture and the newly reinstalled European collection.
  • Capacity: Reception – 150 guests; Seated Dinner – 100 guests

• Morgan Main Lobby: Morgan Main Lobby features a split stairwell that displays over nine varieties of Italian marble and carries the eye up to a stained glass skylight embedded in its exquisitely detailed ceiling. The vibrant Whirls and Twirls wall painting by Hartford born conceptual artist Sol LeWitt bridges past and present artistic styles in this historic and unforgettable setting.
  • Capacity: Reception – 50 guests; Seated Dinner – 30 guests

• Hartford Courant Room, Museum Café, Grengras Court: For more intimate gatherings, the Hartford Courant Room provides the perfect location for business breakfasts, luncheons, meetings, presentations, lectures, and small dinner parties. Its tall windows overlook Alexander Calder’s iconic Stegosaurus, a public sculpture which welcomes visitors to downtown Hartford. The museum café also serves smaller business groups for breakfast meetings, evening cocktail receptions and dinner events. This space can be used in conjunction with the adjoining outdoor Gengras Court during the warmer months.
  • Hartford Courant Room Capacity: Reception – 50 guests; Seated Dinner – 50 guests
  • Museum Café Capacity: Reception – 75 guests; Seated Dinner – 60 guests
  • Gengras Court Capacity: Reception – 125 guests; Seated Dinner – 60 guests

• Aetna Theater & Loctite Lobby: For formal presentations requiring more extensive audio-visual capabilities, Aetna Theater is fully equipped with a stage, audio visual equipment and exceptional acoustics. From the floor-to-ceiling lyrical neo-Romantic murals that line the walls to the original wooden stage, this rental space has a storied history of presenting critically acclaimed performances and presentations.  The classic Art Deco theater opened in 1934 for the world premiere of a new opera: Four Saints in Three Acts, written by Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thompson and featuring the first all-black cast in an American opera. Shortly following, George Balanchine presented his first American public performances of ballet in on the theater’s stage. The Wadsworth was also the first museum in the country to launch an extensive motion picture series. The legendary Aetna Theater offers access to an adjoining lobby for small pre or post event receptions.
  • Aetna Capacity: Theater Style – 284 guests
  • Loctite Lobby Capacity: Reception – 100 guests; Seated Dinner – 30 guests

Support the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art …by simply booking your next special occasion here:

https://www.thewadsworth.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/TH-Wadsworth-Atheneum-Events-Packet.pdf

As a SHOP: Discover unique gifts…

Peruse the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art Shop to find a rich mix of handcrafted jewelry, beautiful home and fashion accessories, a wide selection of exhibition catalogues, books, and stationery, plus games, toys, and puzzles for all ages.  Merchandise is catalogued within these collections: * Exhibitions * Books * Style * Home Goods * Paper Goods * Toys & Activities, and * Featured Collections.

Support the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art… by simply purchasing your specialty merchandise here:

https://www.wadsworthshop.org/

As an EATERY: Food for thought…

At Berkins on Main at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art we pride ourselves on providing quick and delicious breakfast and lunch options for you to grab on your way to work or meetings. Sandwiches, salads and more are always on the menu! We offer comfortable seating inside our café with free WIFI and plenty of outlets!  Perfect for office meetings, lunch breaks or a quiet place to work on a project!

Support the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art …by simply dining here:

https://berkinsblendcafe.com/berkins-on-main

Be a DONOR: Show that you care…

The generosity of donors helps the Wadsworth serve our community as a source of inspiration and connection through art. Your support makes possible an array of exhibitions as well as innovative virtual programs that engage people of all ages, including art-making activities for children and families, school tours, teacher programs, artist talks, and more.  As a privately funded organization, the Wadsworth Atheneum relies on members, as well as generous friends and supporters to meet the costs of producing exhibitions, educating children and adults, and providing public programs throughout the year.  Help support America’s oldest public art museum in its mission of advancing knowledge and inspiring everyone to experience and appreciate excellence in art and culture.

Membership:

Members make the Wadsworth a vibrant place to visit, and help continue the legacy of world-class art in downtown Hartford. As a member you will receive free admission, invitations to exclusive events, and discounts on special programs – it’s an opportunity to intimately experience the museum while supporting the exhibitions and programs that bring life to the galleries.  Gift memberships are encouraged.  Membership at specified levels are offered: Supporter * Ambassador * Sustainer * Enthusiast * Atheneum Associates * Patron * Benefactor * Director’s Council * Chick Austin Circle, and * J. Pierpont Morgan Society.

Donations

Support the Annual Fund: Gifts to the Annual Fund enable us to broaden our reach and expand the diverse programs we offer to better serve the community. This year that support is critical as we advance our virtual presence through the launch of innovative programming that engages audiences of all ages.

• Donations at specified amounts are designated, or you may customize your gift. Gifts in memory or tribute are also encouraged.
• Corporate Membership: Corporate Membership provides companies exclusive museum access and involvement for its key executives, employees, and guests. Benefits include free employee admission and the opportunity to host special events at the museum. A significant portion of your contribution is tax-deductible.  Annual support from the corporate community is essential in helping the museum continue to serve as a key cultural and educational resource that contributes to the stability, diversity, and economic health of Hartford.
• Securities: Securities are the assets most commonly donated. When you donate appreciated securities, you generally do not incur any capital gains tax. You also may be eligible to receive a federal income-tax charitable deduction (up to 30% of your AGI with a five-year carryover) for the securities’ full fair market value if you have held them long term (i.e., for longer than 12 months). If the donated securities were held short term (i.e., 12 months or less), your deduction may not exceed your cost basis. Because a gift of appreciated securities generally avoids capital gains taxes, this type of gift may have a lower after-tax cost to you than an equivalent gift of cash. In addition to stock, you may donate bonds and mutual fund shares.
• Matching Gifts: Increase the value of your museum contribution with a corporate matching gift. Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contribution made by their employees. The process is easy and typically requires you to simply submit a matching gift form.
• Planned Giving – Bequests: Bequests (specific, residuary, and contingent gifts made by will) are the most popular type of planned gift. Whether you wish to provide general operating income for us to use as needed, which provides us with flexible support, or to a specific program, a bequest is a way to ensure that we and our programs continue to operate through your generosity. A bequest may also help you meet your financial and estate-planning goals since an estate-tax charitable deduction for the entire amount of the gift is allowed. While your will (or codicil) should be prepared by your attorney in consultation with your advisers, we are available to discuss all opportunities with you.
• Planned Giving – Retirement Plan Assets: Assets in qualified (tax-deferred) retirement plans may represent a large portion of your total assets and therefore may be an important factor in planning testamentary charitable gifts. Retirement assets generally considered suitable for charitable gifts include such plans as IRAs, Keoghs, SEPs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and ESOPs.  Left to family members or friends, these assets are subject to income tax and may also be subject to estate tax and generation skipping transfer tax. Because of this potential double layer of tax, retirement plan assets may be particularly attractive as an asset to leave as a gift. In other words, if you designate us as a beneficiary upon your death of all or a specified percentage of a retirement plan, the portion of the plan payable to us will generally escape estate taxes, and we, as a tax-exempt institution, will not be required to pay income tax on the distributions. As a general rule, if you intend to make both non charitable and charitable gifts at death, it makes sense to consider using your tax-deferred retirement plan assets for charity and other assets for heirs. If you are thinking about donating retirement plan assets, you should discuss the matter with your advisers beforehand.
• Planned Giving – Tangible Personal Property: As with gifts of appreciated securities held long-term (longer than 12 months), a donor of tangible personal property held long term and accepted by the Wadsworth Atheneum is potentially entitled to claim an immediate income-tax charitable deduction and avoid capital gains taxes. The extent of the allowable income-tax deduction for such a gift, however, would depend on whether we use the property in a manner related to its tax-exempt mission.
• Endowment Funds: In up and down economies, and for well over a century, our doors have remained open. The strong base of our Endowment Fund is what makes that possible—by providing funding, when needed, for essentials. Your gift to the Endowment Fund is self-perpetuating.  That’s because, as good fund stewards, we draw off of the interest, leaving the principal to grow in perpetuity.  Making an endowment gift requires careful consideration and professional consultation. Contact your attorney or financial adviser to evaluate your options.

Auerbach Library Associates: Auerbach Library Associates explore their interest in books, manuscript collections, and libraries while helping promote the Auerbach Art Library’s mission and growth. Founded in 1981, the Auerbach Library Associates group hosts lectures, field trips, public programs, and an annual holiday party—all designed to deepen members’ understanding of the fascinating books and resources supporting collection research at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.

Contemporary Coalition: Established in 2002, the MATRIX Coalition was a membership group of contemporary art supporters whose annual contributions funded the groundbreaking MATRIX exhibition series. After consideration of the expansive activities of the contemporary art program, which oversees the collections and programs of art dated from 1945 to today, the group was renamed Contemporary Coalition.

Costume & Textile Society: Do you love all things fabric and textile? Are you interested in learning more, sharing your knowledge, and meeting a group of enthusiasts who are invested with the same passion? The Costume and Textile Society is for you and we invite you to join. Founded in 1984 to support the Costume and Textile Department of the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Society also provides many educational, creative and social opportunities for its members. C&TS members volunteer to assist the Costume and Textile Department with collection maintenance and exhibit installation and to plan a variety of events.

Design and Decorative Arts Council: The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is renowned for its collection of American and European design and decorative arts, which include Renaissance and Baroque works from the legendary J. Pierpont Morgan Collection, early American works from the Wallace Nutting Collection, and a robust holding of Connecticut-made objects and furniture. The Design and Decorative Arts Council sponsors events that further the appreciation and understanding of material culture in its many forms. Known for conviviality stimulated by good food and wine, these gatherings are an opportunity to meet and socialize with others sharing a similar passion for design.

Docent Council: A docent is a volunteer museum educator who engages visitors in interactive discussions about art. Docents welcome thousands of visitors every year from communities in the surrounding area and countries around the world. They lead tours for preK to grade 12 students, college students, adults, and families. Docents are valued as teachers and work collaboratively with the Education Department. Docents at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art are part of the Docent Council. Formed in 1968, the council governs and supports the approximately 70 current docents. The council fosters a sense of community through annual social events and trips to art museums in the surrounding area and beyond. As members of the council, docents can take advantage of learning opportunities organized by state and national docent organizations.

Women’s Committee: Founded in 1950, the Women’s Committee of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is a group of dedicated volunteers working to help ensure the vitality of the nation’s oldest continuously-operating public art museum for generations to come. The Women’s Committee organizes two time-honored annual fundraising events, Festival of Trees & Traditions and Fine Art & Flowers, which directly support the museum’s mission to preserve and present the inspiring works of art held in its collections. Both endeavors offer Women’s Committee members opportunity to volunteer their time and talents to support, plan, and staff these critical cultural and artistic events.

Internships: The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art offers a variety of internship opportunities to undergraduate, graduate, and recently graduated students during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The Internship Program is designed to introduce students interested in pursuing a career in the museum field to the inner workings of an encyclopedic art museum under the guidance of experienced museum professionals.

Support the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art …by simply joining, giving, or volunteering here:

https://www.thewadsworth.org/support/