Renting the Russell Museum
The Russell Museum is available to rent for meetings, receptions, buffets and small-to-medium seated dinners in its third-floor Putnam Gallery. The museum’s roof garden is included in the rental.
Kindly note:
• Your event must align with MGH’s mission and values.
• Prospective external event holders: For-profit vendors and companies are not permitted at the Russell Museum.
Catering and Capacity
Fee Overview
Fee Schedule
Restrictions
Availability and Booking
Event Contacts
Virtual Tour
Catering and Capacity
MGH Catering is the museum’s sole caterer. Event holders must work through this office for food and beverages, including beer and wine, and any rentals of flowers, linens, special tables and chairs. The Catering department can coordinate security details and event setup and cleanup.
The museum hosts one event at a time. Capacity is MAXIMUM:
• 100 people for receptions
• 85 for a seated lecture/graduation with reception
• 62 for a seated dinner.
These numbers are strictly enforced. MGB event holders seeking space for more attendees should consult MGH Catering for suggestions about other spaces.
The museum’s roof garden cannot accommodate tables for food or drink, chairs, AV or musical groups, and it cannot be rented separately. Attendees are welcome to visit the space with drinks or food but neither can be served there. The garden is coded for 20 people.
Fees
The rental fee for a Mass General Brigham department is $1,000 for breakfast, lunch and evening events. For daytime events of more than two hours, and for groups external to MGB, the charge is $2,500. Evening, lunch and breakfast events are booked for two-hour increments. Extended hours are available at additional cost.
The museum requires an MGH Security detail when using the museum for a before- or after-hours function. The cost of a detail is $55 an hour at a minimum of four hours per detail. (When less than 24 hours notice is given, the cost is $65 an hour.) Internal events require a minimum of a single security detail for a total cost of $220. Extra details may be required at the discretion of museum staff. External events require two detail officers. Total cost for these details is $440. Security detail officers are required to be at the museum at least 30 minutes before the event begins. Event holders are responsible for securing Security details for the appropriate time scheduled. Events may not begin without Security present and museum doors remain locked until Security arrives. Please schedule accordingly.
There is a $20-per-hour charge for setup and cleanup fee payable to MGH Environmental Services.
The Putnam Gallery features a built-in AV system. The podium – which cannot be moved – has an MGB PC and laptop connectors. Control buttons for the AV system are located on the upper righthand corner of the podium and a user manual is available. The PC is connected to a 98-inch monitor on the front wall. There is a manual available for podium and display use.
Event holders who wish to use the AV system are strongly encouraged to hire Partners Collaborative Media for support. Cost for AV services is dependent on needs and level of support. Museum, Security and Catering staff are unable to provide AV expertise or assistance. The museum is not yet fully equipped for videoconferencing. Partners Collaborative Media can provide guidance should you need this service.
Internal department charges should be paid for with a 10-digit billing code. External groups can pay with a check made payable to MGB Collaborative Media Services. Service hours are Monday through Friday, 6 am to 6 pm. Events taking place outside regular business hours will be charged double.
The museum does not validate or offer parking. Internal departments hosting evening events requiring this service should contact the MGH Parking and Commuter Services Office. Validated parking is not offered to external groups.
| Mass General Brigham event holder | Non-MGB event holder | |
| Rental fee for two-hour breakfast, lunch, or dinner | $1,000 | $2,500 |
| Rental fee for 2+ hour breakfast or dinner | $1,000 plus $500 for each additional hour up to four hours (ending no later than 9 pm for evening hours) | $2,500 plus $500 for each additional hour up to four hours (ending no later than 9 pm for evening hours) |
| Rental fee for all day meeting (four or more hours) | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Security detail: one required for all breakfast and dinner events. Additional details may be required at the discretion of Police & Security. |
$220 ($55 an hour for a minimum of four hours) per detail officer. $55 for each additional hour $65 an hour with less than 24 hours’ notice. |
$440 ($55 an hour for a minimum of four hours) per detail officer. External groups require two (2) detail officers for events. $55 for each additional hour $65 an hour with less than 24 hours’ notice. |
| Event setup and cleanup | $20 an hour per staff member for setup and cleanup. Maximum $200. | $20 an hour per staff member for setup and cleanup. Maximum $200. |
Restrictions
Please note*:
- No glitter, open flame candles, balloons or sap-producing plants (i.e., evergreens) can be used.
- Nothing may be attached to the walls or exhibits. No items should be placed on exhibit cases or areas that house exhibits or video displays. The cost for any damage resulting from the use of prohibited decorating or incurred by event attendees will be charged to the event holder. Easels may be used.
- Because of space constraints, live musical groups are discouraged. Should an event holder wish to hire a live musical group, they must contact museum staff at least three weeks beforehand to request approval. The museum provides access to its commercial-free Pandora Radio membership to all event holders. Login and passwords are provided the day of the event.
No event setup, with the exception of a registration table, can be held on the first floor of the museum. Guests are welcome to walk through the museum while at events; however, no food or beverages may be served in this space.
*Restrictions are subject to change at the discretion of museum staff.
Availability and Booking
Most events take place outside of museum operating hours; daytime events are scheduled on a case-by-case basis. Preference is given to event holders who can allow the museum’s first floor to remain open to the public. The museum is open to visitors from 10 am to 2 pm Tuesday through Friday year-round, and from April through October, 11 am to 4 pm on Saturdays. (Note: Given the museum’s open atrium, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.)
The museum hosts events in the evening from 5 to 7 pm, 5:30 to 7:30 pm or 6 to 8 pm. Additional or extended hours may be available at additional costs dependent upon availability of other services. All evening events must end by 9 pm. The museum can also host breakfast events from 7 to 10 am. Setup of materials – nametags, sign in sheets, etc. – cannot begin until one hour before evening events. If you are interested in a daytime meeting, please feel free to contact the museum.
For more information, please contact assistant director Michelle Marcella.
Event Contacts
| Contact | Mass General Brigham Event Holder | Non-MGB Event Holder |
| MGH Catering | Dan Sullivan, MGH Catering manager: mghcatering@partners.org | |
| Booking | Michelle Marcella, assistant director, Russell Museum | |
| MGB Collaborative Media | Partners Collaborative Media – IS Service Hub (service-now.com)
| Contact Russell Museum staff to be connected with the team. |
| MGH Parking and Commuter Services (host-assisted validated parking) | commuterservices@partners.org | Unfortunately not available to external groups. |
| MGH Photography Services | MGH Photo Lab: 617-726-2237, mghphoto@partners.org | |
Virtual Tour
Tips for Navigating the Tour
- Click the play arrow button in the middle of the tour image to get started.
- Mouse over the colored dots to see “tags” with historical and modern information about the hospital, including images and videos.
- You can explore just by clicking around, or see below for more detailed instructions and accessibility information.