Facility Rentals
About the Location
There are many advantages to planning an event at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, but the main one is this: no matter what you are celebrating, you’re surrounded by beauty. The award-winning building has so much style and history that you don’t have to add much to make your celebration dazzling.
The stunning transformation from bank to museum was completed by Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects who were tasked with the job of repurposing an abandoned mid-century building into a 16,000 square foot state-of-the-art museum. The existing terrazzo floor was maintained in the lobby and the monumental staircase was also left untouched. The beautiful two-story Carrara marble support column was also left completely intact and is visible from the lobby. On January 10, 2014, the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum project was chosen for the Historic Preservation Alliance’s prestigious 2013 Excellence in Preservation through Rehabilitation Award. RAM was also awarded the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Gold Award for Commercial: Adaptive Reuse. In 2017, the building that houses RAM was added to the Arkansas Register of Historic places for its mid-century modern design.
Our four gallery spaces and lobby lend themselves to standing receptions where guests can mingle, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and tour the latest exhibitions. Have the wedding ceremony here too, and prepare to be wowed: there’s nothing like a beautiful bride slowly coming down the terrazzo staircase, meeting her groom at the bottom to exchange vows in front of the Unity sculpture.
From small and intimate to lavish, the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum offers the perfect setting for rehearsal dinners, weddings, receptions, board meetings, corporate events, social celebrations or almost any affair.
We hope that you will keep us in mind as a venue when planning your events. The historic and regal building that houses the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum is as captivating and dynamic as the art inside.
Facility Rental
Rules and Regulations
- You will be responsible for providing $1 Million of general liability insurance for the duration of your event.
- Event set up may not begin before 6PM Tuesday – Saturday, or before 5PM on Sunday.
- You will be charged the applicable hourly rate during the set up and take down of your event.
- No smoking is permitted in the museum. Guests who wish to smoke must do so outside.
- Food or drink is permitted in galleries on a case-by-case basis.
- No open flames.
- Décor: No helium balloons inside the museum.
- No glitter, sparkle, or materials that leave residue allowed.
- No “Fog Machines”.
- Cakes: No “chocolate shavings” on outside of cake.
- No birdseed or bubbles may be used on the premises.
- No adhesive tape or wire may be used to attach decorations to walls.
- No art on display is to be removed or obstructed. any items set up near artwork must be at least 4 feet from the art.
- Tables, chairs, large decorations, musical equipment, and any other large items must be placed in the rented space under the supervision of RAM staff.
- Loading and unloading of rental equipment must be done through approved doorways.
- No items may be set in any public areas of the museum without staff approval.
- Flash photography is not permitted in the galleries.
- All equipment rental arrangements must be cleared through RAM.
- Please do not advertise your event as being at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum until you have a signed contract and cleared advertising with RAM.