Rent the Museum

Montshire will provide staffing for the event, including:

• preparing spaces prior to start of rental
  
• greeting and checking in guests (if needed)
  
• maintaining the facility during the event, including hand washing and sanitizing stations
  
• monitoring galleries and outside spaces to ensure health and safety protocols are followed by guests and staff
  

Food and drink are only allowed outdoors.

For health and safety purposes, food must be served in individual packages (e.g. box suppers; pre-made, individually wrapped sandwiches).

No buffets, potluck, birthday cakes, cafeteria-style, self-service, or shared foods.

There are no kitchen facilities, but there is access to water in the outdoor restrooms and electrical outlets on the Terrace and in the Pavilion.

Renters may contract separately with Vermont licensed caterers, bartenders and/or food trucks.

All vendor activity is limited to the 2-hour rental timeframe and vendors are only allowed to provide food and drink.

Food cannot be sold on the premises unless it is from a food truck.

Upcharge may apply for additional staff time needed to coordinate with Renter’s vendor.

Vendors must comply with the Montshire’s health and safety protocols.

Outdoor exhibits and facilities are closed during electrical storms.

An alternate event date can be selected at booking, or, with appropriate notice, an outdoor reservation can be changed to indoor (all indoor policies apply).

Renter and MMS staff will consult 12-24 hours in advance of the event to make the decision to reschedule or cancel (cancellation policies apply) the event.

All attendees must wear masks and social distance as much as possible while inside the building. When outside, masks are required when speaking to Montshire staff.

The full list of the Montshire Museum of Science’s current health and safety policies are available on the Montshire’s Visit page. As all guests will need to comply with these guidelines, Renter should review these policies before booking, as well as in advance of their event date as policies may have changed. Any guest demonstrating disregard for the health and safety protocols will be asked to leave.

Due to the limited timeframe of the rental, all museum spaces are to be used “as-is”. Only small personal items, such as blankets, portable camp chairs, a small sound system are allowed outdoors; indoors, an iPhone can be hooked up to the museum’s PA to play music. The community room is not included as part of any rental.

All rentals must be reserved a minimum of two weeks prior to the event date.

A signed agreement with one-half of the rental fee is required to hold a date.

The balance of the rental fee and a $300 security deposit is due two weeks prior to your event.

Security deposit refunds will be issued within 30 days following the event, assuming there is no damage or unusual custodial requirements—including additional staff time—as a result of the event.

The Montshire does not provide insurance coverage or assume responsibility for the actions of any individual or entity renting the facilities. Liability and/or property damage arising from the group’s actions is the responsibility of the group or person that has reserved the space.

If Renter cancels their event more than 3 weeks prior to the event date, a full refund of deposit will be made to Renter. If Renter cancels 2 weeks before the event, 50% of deposit is forfeited. Cancellations made by the Renter less than two weeks prior to the event are nonrefundable. The Montshire reserves the right to cancel an event and retain the deposit if Renter and guests are unable to comply with health, safety and other Montshire policies.

Reflecting the Montshire’s role in the community and mission, Museum trustees have restricted certain functions held at the Montshire. Events relating to political campaigns, political agendas, or sponsored by political parties are not allowed. Museum administration may choose not to accept requests or cancel events that they consider potentially adverse to the Museum’s operations. Charging admission or selling tickets to an event held at the Montshire is not permitted. Fundraising of any kind is not permitted, nor is selling merchandise.