PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Penn Museum is allowing private events to be held in an expansive space for a short time, before it is transformed into the new Egypt and Nubia galleries.
The space closed to the public in 2023 when Penn embarked on a major redesign of the galleries. For a limited time, from Sept. 15 through Feb. 28 next year, while the artifacts are in storage and before the space transforms into the Egypt and Nubia Galleries, the museum will offer a chance to book the space for private events.
Walking into the monumental museum space, where the ceiling reaches as high as 50 feet, guests can get a first look at the restored floors of a 100-year-old original terrazzo.
Atiya German, with the museum, explains the space allows planners to be creative.
“It’s an open blank canvas. While we love having the artifacts in the galleries, it gives an opportunity to have a space where you can transform it to your own vision,” German said.
“We’re excited. It gives us an opportunity to have a very versatile space. We can have weddings, corporate events and many different types of gatherings.”
It accommodates about 190 people. And, she says, there’s a perk for the curious.
“The best part about the event space is that you’re in the galleries. So when you have down time you can walk over to look at the artifacts and you have access to all of the gallery spaces,” German said.
“So not only do you get to host your event in a really cool space, but you get a walk around and tour and look at the galleries.”
German says she is making sure as many people as possible can enjoy what she calls a lifetime opportunity.
The renovation will re-open to the public in two phases, said German. The Egypt Galleries on the main level, focused on the afterlife, will open in late 2026; the Egypt and Nubia Galleries on the upper level, focused on royalty and religion, are expected to reopen in 2028.