Private Events

Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum
Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum

Elevate your event

Host your unique gathering at the Burke Museum and 
give your guests an experience they'll never forget! 

From networking events and panel discussions to cocktail receptions and dance parties,
we can help you create a custom experience for your celebration.

View event photos, watch a virtual venue tour, and learn more about our spaces and caterers—then reach out to get the planning started!

Contact us

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group of people pose with Dubs the Husky
Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum
Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum

After hours, the Cascade Room can be connected with the adjacent lobby to create a large, airy gathering space.

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champagne glasses on a purple tablecloth
Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum
Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum

Host your unique gathering at the Burke Museum.

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seated dinner place settings
Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum
Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum

The Special Exhibits Gallery space features an ocean theme and a striking ocean-themed art installation. It's a multi-functional space perfect for large dinners, lectures, dance parties, and banquets.

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guests play a game of ring toss
Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum
Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum

The Cascade Room features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the terraced camas fields and University of Washington campus, an illuminated Tiffany window, and 18th century French wood paneling.

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guests walk around the burke museum 2nd floor
Photo: Matt Hagen/UW College of Education
Photo: Matt Hagen/UW College of Education

Three floors of galleries are available as add-ons to any private event.

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a speaker at an event
Photo: Matt Hagen/UW College of Education
Photo: Matt Hagen/UW College of Education

From networking events and panel discussions to cocktail receptions and dance parties, we can help you create a custom experience for your celebration.

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3 people pose for a photo at a private event
Photo: Matt Hagen/UW College of Education
Photo: Matt Hagen/UW College of Education

The Burke's dazzling event spaces feature soaring skeletons, Tiffany windows, and iconic artwork.

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a couple stands in front of the entrance to the grand atrium
Photo: Pavel Verbovski
Photo: Pavel Verbovski

The soaring Grand Atrium is the perfect place to host your gathering.

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a mastodon skeleton and whale skeleton
Photo: Pavel Verbovski
Photo: Pavel Verbovski

The soaring Grand Atrium is the perfect place to host your gathering.

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guests sit in the temporary gallery for an event
Photo: Matt Hagen/UW College of Education
Photo: Matt Hagen/UW College of Education

A large, dramatic art installation suspended centrally in the space draws in guests and sets the stage for a welcoming and memorable experience.

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guests at a private event
Photo: Pavel Verbovski
Photo: Pavel Verbovski

The Special Exhibits Gallery is an incredibly versatile and dynamic space for your gathering.

Featured Event Spaces

The Burke's dazzling event spaces feature soaring skeletons, Tiffany windows, and iconic artwork. Three floors of galleries engage guests with visible collections and workrooms and one-of-a-kind objects. Learn more about our spaces and catering options, then contact us to get the planning started!

Perfect for small, mingle-friendly cocktail parties and networking events, the soaring Grand Atrium is filled with icons of Washington's natural and cultural heritage that are sure to dazzle your guests. 

A classroom opens up into the space as well—a great place for a buffet or extra seating.

Notable features:
Guests can sit at the feet of a mastodon, admire a monumental piece of contemporary Native art, and pass beneath a beaked whale diving from the ceiling.

Contact Us

Location

Floor 0 | Lower lobby

Availability

Evenings

Capacity

Grand Atrium: 80 standing only

When connected with adjacent classroom: 100 (seating options available)

This beautiful and versatile space can accommodate a wide variety of events, from plated dinners to lectures. The Cascade Room features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the terraced camas fields and University of Washington campus, an illuminated Tiffany window, and 18th century French wood paneling.

After hours, the Cascade Room can be connected with the adjacent lobby to create a large, airy gathering space.

Notable features:
This room is also equipped with built-in A/V, including two large projectors and screens.Guests can enjoy exquisitely carved Boiserie French paneling from 1720 and a 16-foot-tall, recently-restored grand Louis Comfort Tiffany window called “Peacock with Hollyhocks and Morning Glories.”

Contact Us

Location

Floor 1 | Main level

Availability

Daytime or evenings

Capacity

Cascade Room: 80

When connected with adjacent lobby: 150 seated, 200 standing

This rotating gallery is a multi-functional space perfect for large dinners, lectures, dance parties, and banquets. Featuring a striking ocean-themed art installation, it sets the stage for an unforgettable experience.

Notable features:
Guests can enjoy the current Tidal Breaks exhibit, where environmental artwork, ambient light, and sound coalesce to create an atmosphere reminiscent of an underwater lounge. Tidal Breaks will be open in the Special Exhibits Gallery through fall 2020.

Contact Us

Location

Floor 2

Availability

Daytime or evenings

Capacity

200 seated, 250 standing

Virtual Venue Tour

Gallery access

Give your guests the full Burke experience! Add on your favorite gallery for guests to visit during cocktail hour, or reserve the entire museum for three floors of fun and an unforgettable evening.

Contact Us

Photo: Pavel Verbovski
Photo: Pavel Verbovski

Eat & Drink

We're proud to partner with these prestigious caterers.
Visit their websites to learn more and please feel free to reach out to them directly for menus and offerings.

Preferred Caterers

Ready to plan your event?

Our Private Events team is excited to help you create an unforgettable event at the Burke.

Contact us

useburke@uw.edu

Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum
Photo: Timothy Kenney/Burke Museum

FAQs | Private Events During COVID and Beyond

All events canceled due to Coronavirus-related closure can be rescheduled with your original deposit carried forward to the new date, or we can issue you a refund with no cancellation fee if you need to cancel.

Yes! We are continuing to take reservations and would love to hear from you. Please fill out this form to tell us more about what you're planning.

We will resume in person venue tours upon reopening the museum to the public, but our Private Events team is always happy to schedule a virtual tour to keep the planning process moving for those who may not feel comfortable visiting just yet.

We will be following both the state and the University of Washington's policies regarding gathering restrictions—please reach out to our team at useburke@uw.edu if you have questions, or to check whether we are hosting private events at this time. 

 

Our team is committed to creating a fun and safe experience for guests and staff during private events, and is working closely with the University of Washington and our catering partners to reimagine the event experience.

We are following Washington state guidelines for small gatherings and food service, and will be implementing several changes including new room configurations and capacity limitations, ample hand sanitizer dispensers, touch free food and beverage stations, socially distanced seating, and more.  

 

The safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers is our top priority.

Please view our Welcome Back Guidelines to learn more about what precautions we are taking, and what you can expect when you visit the museum.   

 

Please send a note to useburke@uw.edu, our team would be happy to assist with booking inquiries or any questions you may have.

We look forward to hearing from you! 

 

a man and woman pose for the photo at a private event

Your event supports the Burke

Revenue from private events supports ongoing programming and exhibits, and helps the Burke protect the collections and information we hold for future generations—thank you!

Learn More

Photo: Pavel Verbovski
Photo: Pavel Verbovski