Facility Rental
Welcome Your Guests to MOCA
Perfectly situated in New York City’s downtown at the cross-section of the thriving neighborhoods of Chinatown, Little Italy and Soho, the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) is a unique space perfect for your next event. In an inspiring and striking space designed by acclaimed artist Maya Lin, MOCA is the ideal setting for personal or corporate events, from intimate sit-down dinners and private receptions to corporate functions and cocktail parties. MOCA welcomes you!
Capacity
Museum of Chinese in America
250 (standing cocktail reception with two catering stations)
200 (seated speaking program, divided into multiple spaces linked by live video feed)
150 (standing speaking program in one room)
100 (sit-down dinner; divided into multiple spaces)
*Rental of the entire Museum space is required for events with a guest list of over 100 expected attendees
Bloomberg Special Exhibitions Gallery
150 (standing cocktail reception with one catering station)*
90 (seated program)*
60 (seated dinner)*
*Available when exhibitions are not currently installed or design allows; variable standing capacity dependent on exhibition design
Lower Level with Shum Wai Yau Courtyard
90 (standing cocktail reception with one food and beverage station)
45 (sit-down dinner)
45 (seated program)
30 (seated meeting)
Hsien Hsien and Bae Pao Lu Chow Cultural Programs Center
100 (standing cocktail reception with one catering station)
60 (seated program)
45 (seated dinner)
Jundy and Tin An Cheng Digital Salon
45 (standing cocktail reception with one catering station)
20 (seated dinner)
12 (seated meeting)
Included in all rentals is access to the Museum of Chinese in America’s permanent exhibition With a Single Step: Stories in the Making of America, the Bloomberg Special Exhibitions Gallery display, and use of the Museum Lobby, restrooms, pantry space and some pre- or post-event storage with prior arrangement. Site rental rates include the facility fee and event coordination as well as one hour for set up and one hour for cleanup. Catering, to be arranged by renter, is not included in the site rental fee. All caterers must be approved by the Museum and MOCA can provide a list of preferred vendors whom we recommend to assure that your event runs smoothly.
Corporations are encouraged to become members of the Museum. Membership at the $5,000 level and above includes one rental at four hours (to include set up and break down time) within the membership year as well as a 50% discount on space rental on any additional rentals within the membership year. In addition, MOCA welcomes conference groups and multi-hour meetings. A Conference Rental is defined as a six-to-eight-hour use of one space within the Museum, to begin and end—including set up and break down—within normal operating hours (9am-7pm.) For a rental of a minimum of 6 hours total, a conference organizer receives a discount of 50% on room rental rates.
Restrictions
In order to protect the Museum’s collections and building, we enforce the following restrictions:
• MOCA reserves the right to refuse a request.
• No smoking is permitted within the building.
• No food or drink is permitted in the galleries when exhibitions are installed.
• No candles or open flame are permitted in any room (excluding use of sterno in the pantry).
• No flash photography permitted in the galleries.
• Decorations are subject to Museum approval.
• For corporate events, no organizational logo may cover a MOCA logo (on signage, podium, etc.); all displays, decorations and logo usage must be approved by the Museum.
• The Museum reserves the right to approve all press releases and on-premises press coverage.
• Rentals require a two-hour minimum, and all event dates and times must be vetted by MOCA. Rental time frames must also account for event set up and break down.
• Scheduled Museum event hours fall between 11am-9pm on weekdays and 10am-9pm on weekends. Events that take place outside of this time frame must receive approval from MOCA and may incur additional costs.
Private events may be held on any available day of the week with the exception of major holidays, holiday weekends, and Target Free Thursday evenings. Public and/or co-sponsored events may be held on Target Free Thursday evenings with special consideration. We recommend that events over two hours or 100 guests are scheduled at least two months in advance. Event date requests should be made in writing and before vendors or other assistance is booked; requests are subject to Museum availability. Event details, including but not limited to date, time, expected attendance, catering and other vendor needs, A/V services, and special considerations must be agreed upon in an event contract between the Museum and the renter.
MOCA is ADA accessible and welcomes people of all abilities.
Community Rentals
In addition, we welcome peer nonprofits to hold events, meetings, receptions, and more at MOCA in recognition of the need for reduced-cost public spaces to help strengthen our community.
To qualify for a Community Rental
• The organization must be identified as a 501(c)3 organization.
• At least one member of the event planning committee must be a member of MOCA.
• The purpose of the event must be clearly stated and may not conflict with the goals, mission or operational policies of MOCA.
• The organization will need to staff the event with the appropriate number of personnel for check in, event management, set up and break down.
• The organization must allow a MOCA representative to make remarks during any speaking program.
• The organization must allow MOCA to distribute collateral to guests or as part of any give away.
Some Community Rental restrictions Apply
• MOCA reserves the right to refuse a request.
• Events will not be scheduled if the date and/or time conflict with preplanned MOCA programs.
• Fundraising events are not permitted within this program; Fundraisers may choose to rent the space under the private event rental rules.
• Events may be held on any available day of the week with the exception of major holidays and holiday weekends. Public and/or co-sponsored events may be held on Target Free Thursday evenings with special consideration.
• Events may not exceed 100 guests.
• Costs will be assessed dependent on event needs.
• MOCA will assign the appropriate space for the event, dependent on the event’s criteria (e.g. number of expected guests, the type of event, etc.)
For more information on renting at the Museum of Chinese in America or to schedule a site visit to discuss event details, please contact Emily Chovanec, Visitor Services Manager, by email at events@mocanyc.org or by telephone at 212 619 4785 ext 4152.
