Rentals

The Rahr-West Art Museum offers an affordable, incomparable venue for your special event. Rooms are available for birthday parties, bridal showers, baby showers, family reunions, meetings, etc. Gallery space is available for corporate parties, recitals, and weddings. Additional, the mansion offers a beautiful backdrop for an intimate wedding ceremony.

All rental requests must be submitted no less than two weeks in advance. Rental fees and a refundable deposit of $150 is due at the the time of rental. Refer to the rental forms for facility rules and guidelines.

Parties & Showers

Room 3

Room three at the Rahr-West Art Museum is a spectacular place to host a birthday party or shower. The room features a Starry Night mural made from bottle caps, beautiful, twinkling icicle lights, and a kitchenette with a full sized refrigerator. With space to accommodate up to 75, guests are welcome to tour the galleries or create a unique party package with one of our many activities. 

Download the facility rental form.

Meeting Rooms

rm 3 square 2Located in the basement of the museum, room three is fully handicapped accessible. This room can accommodate up to 70 people with tables and includes access to a kitchenette, making it an ideal choice for meetings. AV equipment is available upon request for a nominal fee.

Room 1 Meeting

Located in the basement of the historic mansion, in what was once Mr. Rahr's billiards room, room one offers a more intimate space for small meetings. Room capacity is 25 and it is handicapped accessible. 

Download the facility rental form.

Weddings

Wedding 2018

The historic Vilas-Rahr mansion provides a timeless and beautiful backdrop for an intimate wedding ceremony. Please note that the capacity is 30 seated or up to 50 standing. The mansion is now fully accessible.

For completed details, including rental fees, download the wedding rental form.

Parties

Room 2 2018

Room two, although primarily used as the Rahr-West's classroom, makes for a great space for a child's birthday party, especially when paired with one of our fantastic art activities.

Download the facility rental form.


Corporate Events, Receptions & Recitals

The Rahr-West Art Museum galleries are an exquisite space for corporate events or wedding receptions. Depending on the space selected, galleries can accommodate groups over 200 people.

Ruth West Event

The Ruth West Gallery can accommodate up to 150 guests with tables or up to 350 with chairs only.

JW west wing2

The John West Gallery consists of two separate wings. Collectively up to 100 can be accommodated with tables or up to 150 with chairs only.

Lounge Gallery

The Lounge Gallery makes the perfect venue for a cocktail hour. Up to 30 guests can be accommodated with tables or up to 60 with chairs only.

Porte Cochere

The Porte' Cochere may only be rented in conjunction with at least one or the other galleries and includes access to the mansion's kitchen area.

For an additional charge, the Vilas-Rahr Mansion may be opened to your guests during your rental.

Complete information including rental guidelines and fees may be found on the private event rental request form.

Depending on the number of attendees, we have several options available for your recital. Reception space is also available. Use of our beautiful baby grand piano is included with all recital rentals. If you wish to utilize gallery space for a recital, please download the recital form.

Rental Policy Statement

The Rahr-West Art Museum is a not-for-profit, tax-supported institution, operating as a department of the City of Manitowoc. The Museum will make space available for rental by outside parties on a limited basis, provided it does not interfere with the operations of the Museum, with Museum programming, or with any City governmental need. Indoor spaces are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the established policies and criteria of usage. The grounds are not available for rent.

The Museum will not rent space for fundraising activities that do not directly or indirectly support or enhance the mission of the museum or the promotion of other cultural activities within the area.

Activities that interfere with the use of a public exhibition space for more than one day will be considered at the discretion of the Director and the Board of Directors. One of the primary purposes of the museum is to serve the public through exhibition. Therefore, rental of the facility for non-museum related functions should not interfere with public accessibility.