Your guests and associates have never experienced anything like it.

Holding a function in one of the galleries of the Royal BC Museum guarantees smiles and memories for everyone who attends. Experience the majestic natural beauty, diverse culture and exquisite tastes of British Columbia all in one evening.

The beauty of our galleries and convenience of our location are matched by our attention to detail, our service and the quality of our catering. Whether it’s a dinner for 10 or a reception for 2,000, you’ll have a unique BC experience. We’ll help you design a menu of local food and drink and assist you in choosing entertainment to perfectly match your event. What could be more memorable than that?

Clifford Carl Hall and Glass Lobby

Located on the main floor, Clifford Carl Hall has been everything from the dining room on the Titanic to an Egyptian banquet hall—a primeval forest or a trapeze training school. This space can serve as a lecture hall or a formal dining area for two hundred or more. Bring us your ideas, and we'll do our best to realize them.

Meeting Rooms

The Royal BC Museum has a range of meeting rooms available. Please contact our Facility Rentals Manager to determine availability.

Outdoor Areas

The Royal BC Museum offers several locations for outdoor events: at historic Helmcken House in Elliot Square, amid the totems of Thunderbird Park or beside the reflection pool in front of the BC Archives.

Download map

Feature Exhibition Gallery

This gallery has featured exhibitions such as Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Eternal Egypt: Masterworks of Ancient Art, Treasures: The World’s Cultures from the British Museum, Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries and Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Your facility rental contact will be able to tell you what exciting exhibitions are coming our way. These exhibitions are available for private rentals, although food and beverages are not always allowed in the featured exhibitions.

Natural History Galleries

Experience 80 million years of history on the museum’s second floor. From the ice wall that forms a backdrop for our famed Woolly mammoth to the submarine charm of Ocean Station, your guests will be able to experience a rainforest, a seashore and a river delta—all on a single floor.

The Natural History galleries are an ideal space for grazing receptions or small intimate dinners by the shoreline. Menus usually include spectacular in-season seafood.

Download map

Becoming BC Gallery

In our Becoming BC galleries, attendees will mingle with fur traders and explorers. They’ll walk turn-of-the-century streets and explore a replica of North America’s second oldest Chinatown, or spend some time on a pioneer farm in Northern BC.

In all our galleries, we can offer much more than just a dinner in a dramatic location. Both food and entertainment can be themed with your choice of location. For the Modern History Galleries, your guests might be served Asian fusion in Chinatown, or local musicians could play traditional music before a murder mystery is acted out in Old Town. Your evening can be completely themed according to the tastes, budget and desires of your organization.

• Becoming BC: Century Hall
• Becoming BC: Old Town
• Becoming BC: Farm
• Becoming BC: Cannery
• Becoming BC: Waterwheel
• Becoming BC: Maritime Gallery

First Peoples Gallery

From the replica pit house to the detailed masks created by master carvers from several First Nations, your guests will experience the rich culture of First Peoples in British Columbia. These galleries display some of the finest examples of First Nations art and culture in the world.

Your guests may dine amid the silent totems or have traditional singers and dancers tell stories about their people.

• Our Living Languages Exhibition
• First Peoples Gallery: Pit House
• First Peoples Gallery: Totem Hall
• First Peoples Gallery: Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw Big House (for ceremonial use only)

Download map

Truffles Catering: Official Corporate Catering Partner

Truffles Catering is a 100% local Vancouver Island company which was started just over 20 years ago by chef-proprietor Don Calveley.

We have been working with the Royal BC Museum since the inception of the facilities rental program and have continued to develop and enhance the partnership between our two organizations. Our understanding of producing events inside the museum galleries is second to none, and our team takes great delight in every event we cater at this very special venue.

We are proud to showcase the best of our region and many of our menu designs reflect this. Our culinary team is highly talented and specializes in creating menus to suit individual occasions. For out-of-town guests Truffles is best placed to represent local specialties from Vancouver Island producers and suppliers, being a local business committed to sustainable practices.

A range of sample menus is available, and we would be happy to discuss options and event styles at any time.

We look forward to talking with you!

Phone: 250-544-0200
Email: yummy@trufflescatering.net

Do we need to use the museum's caterers or may we use any caterer?

We ask that you use our caterers. The Royal BC Museum is a Crown corporation, and following the Government of British Columbia guidelines, put a request for proposal on BC Bid. Catering companies who complied with the requirements of the bidding process were evaluated according to the policy and a three-year contract was awarded to caterers who met the criteria.

Do we need to get a liquor licence for our event?

No, the museum has a liquor licence.

Can we bring our own liquor?

No. A requirement for our liquor licence is that all liquor is purchased and served in accordance with BC Liquor Control Board policy.

Why are there some areas where no red wine (or beverages) or red sauces are allowed?

The acids and composition of these have the potential to stain and/or damage artifacts if spillage occurs.

Do we need to rent equipment or does the museum have equipment?

Tables, chairs and equipment having to do with food and beverage service are to be negotiated with the caterers. Audiovisual and similar equipment is available from the museum. The list is included in the rental contract and will be post billed.

What are the capacities for each area?

Capacities vary depending on what kind of an event you are doing (stand-up reception, grazing stations or a sit-down dinner). Each event is different.

What is included in the rental fee?

The services of the museum event coordinator, a technician, normal security and cleaning. Any additional services such as special security, a sound system or audiovisual equipment will be post billed. The client must negotiate with the caterer and any entertainment.

What about entertainment at the event?

The museum has a list of entertainment providers who have previously entertained in the galleries. Additional entertainment may be brought in, but it must be cleared by the museum event coordinator. The museum reserves the right to approve entertainment. All entertainment must be respectful of the protocols involved and the museum's reputation.

May we have a fundraiser at the Museum?

The Royal BC Museum does not raise funds for other organizations.

May we sell goods at our event?

No, this would be a conflict of interest for our gift shop.

Cancellation Policy

The Corporation may, at its discretion, terminate this Licence upon 90 days written notice to the User in which case the Corporation will return any money it has received from the User and the User’s rights under this Agreement will terminate without compensation. The User may, at its discretion, immediately terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the Corporation.

If the User terminates this Agreement:

1. at least 60 days prior to the Commencement Date, the Corporation will return the Deposit to the User;
2. less than 60 days but at least 31 days prior to the Commencement Date, the Corporation will keep the Deposit and return any amounts paid pursuant to s.2.01(b); and
3. less than 31 days prior to the Commencement Date, the User will pay the full amount set out in this Agreement.

Sustainability Policy

The Royal BC Museum Corporation is committed to acting responsibly on the purchase, use and disposal of energy or materials that have an impact on the environment. This policy provides a framework within which the Royal BC Museum operates, and which demonstrates responsibility and due diligence on the part of the Royal BC Museum Corporation. In addition, we aim to educate and assist members of the Royal BC Museum community to understand and fulfill their responsibilities to practice environmental sustainability.

Miscellaneous

• SOCAN license will be arranged by the museum when the renter provides the museum with details of planned performance in writing.
• A provincial certificate of insurance is required, showing $2,000,000 comprehensive general liability.
• Please note: Red wine and certain foods are not permitted in the galleries.
• All prices include basic museum security, cleaners, an AV technician and an event coordinator.
• The museum has a full range of AV equipment, staging material and props available for rent.

Our professional facility rentals manager is experienced in organizing events of all kinds. Starting with an initial consultation, we will assist you every step of the way to ensure your event meets your budget and provides your guests with a truly unique British Columbian experience.

Please note that the Royal BC Museum galleries and meeting spaces are not suitable for weddings, birthday parties or similar events.

To learn more about how the Royal BC Museum can turn your event into an unforgettable occasion, please contact:

Venue Rentals
Phone: 250-387-5745
Fax: 250-387-6062
Email: venuerentals@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca