Sydney, Australia
Australian National Maritime Museum
Email: venues@anmm.gov.au
The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM), located on Darling Harbour, is easily accessible and is in walking distance of the Central Business District. You can travel by ferry from Circular Quay to Pyrmont Bay wharf or take the train to Town Hall station and walk across Pyrmont Bridge.
Why is it special?
The museum showcases a fleet of historic vessels, and naval exhibits in the galleries along the waterfront and even on the water itself. A cannon jettisoned from Captain Cook’s Endeavour on his 1770 voyage of discovery along Australia’s east coast is one of the highlights in the museum and with other older crafts, extensive conservation work is needed to preserve them. Along the waterfront, you can see the 100-year-old Cape Bowling Green lighthouse, which was one of a series developed by Queensland’s then colonial government.
What can you do there?
The museum can host a range of different events, ranging from groups of 20 up to 500 people. Your group can enjoy refreshments while appreciating the museum exhibits, followed by dinner and drinks in one of the waterfront venues.
As an extra feature, you can arrange a guided tour of the galleries and exhibitions for your guests in conjunction with your function. The museum can also introduce its resident sailing company, Sydney By Sail, to offer a range of activities on the harbour including corporate regattas or team-building exercises.
Edwina Loiterton, venue manager of ANMM, reports a strong new trend, especially among corporates, to link a function with a particular exhibition or some other special attraction at the museum.
She cites the example of Tourism Ireland, which invited travel industry clients to a dinner in the museum while it was featuring a new exhibition by an Irish photographer. Its guests had an exclusive private viewing of the pictures with informed commentary by a museum curator as an after-dinner treat.
Loiterton also mentions that more companies want to conduct team-building activities with seminars and learning activities inside the museum.
Recent events:
• Tourism Ireland dinner party
• Corporate family day
Shanghai, China
Museum of Contemporary Art
Email: info@mocashanghai.org
Located in the People’s Park next to the famous People’s Square, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) was originally the park’s greenhouse. Now it aims to promote Chinese contemporary art and design locally, nationally and internationally.
Why is it special?
Since it was originally built as a greenhouse, its clear glass exterior maintains access to bright natural light and the scenic park landscape. All public areas are professionally lit and feature temperature and humidity controls.
What can you do there?
The Museum offers two galleries and one multi-function room (holding 80 people) for hosting events. There is a restaurant which is available for staging all kinds of events, such as press conferences, fashion shows or cocktail parties. The capacity is 160 people for dining (100 inside the restaurant and 60 out on the terrace) and 300 for a cocktail reception. The inhouse events team can offer complete planning for all of your corporate events.
Frank Fan, senior account manager of APNC Integrated Marketing, used this venue for arranging the HUGO BOSS?gala dinner and Ferrari new car model launch. He says MOCA organisers and coordinators are polite, professional and well educated. The museum is very select in choosing brands that want to conduct events there to maintain the image and reputation of the museum.
Fan adds: “They welcome top luxury brands to conduct some crossover events there. But the initiative must be subtle. From my clients’ feedback they’re quite satisfied with the results. From a luxury brand’s perspective, such kinds of crossover initiatives are very beneficial for brand image-building.”
Recent events:
• Givenchy fashion show
• Toshiba product launch
• DTC show
Hong Kong
Green T House
Email: events_hongkong@green-t-house.com
Green T House Hong Kong, located in the Cyberport area, is the third of its kind after it was first launched in Beijing in 1997. It has since built an international reputation as a unique blend of teahouse, restaurant, gallery, cultural events space and inspiring meeting venue.
Why is it special?
The design of the Green T House Hong Kong features a five-metre ceiling height, subtle shades of white, with a circular private tearoom and a stainless steel sculpture that serves as a bar. A private elevator will take you in this place. The creator JinR chose to base the Hong Kong venue in Cyberport because she felt it gives people a sense of getting away from it all.
What can you do there?
The Green T House Hong Kong includes a contemporary Chinese restaurant, gallery and a cultural venue to showcase the artworks that were handpicked by the owner JinR. The Chinese restaurant presents “New China” cuisine that is tailor-made for Hong Kong’s dining scene and caters up to 40 guests at a time. The gallery space acts as a platform for cultural events and performances.
Recent events:
• BMW VIP dinner
• MTV private party
• Dunhill Fashion Show
• Estee Lauder product launch
Rajasthan, India
City Palace Museum, Jaipur
Event organiser: Distant Frontiers
Email: mkapoor@distantfrontiers.com
The City Palace, built in the early 18th century, is one of the most popular attractions in the “Pink City” of Jaipur. Part of India’s famous “Golden Triangle”, Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan. The nearest airport to Jaipur is Sanganer Airport, just a 30-minute hop from Delhi and a 90-minute flight from Mumbai. An experience not to be missed.
Why is it special?
Hawa Mahal, known as the “Palace of Winds”, is part of the City Palace. This delicate façade is the best-known landmark and the signature monument of Jaipur. This palace is decorated with pillars, arches, grills and beautiful inlay works. Part of the palace is still occupied by the royal family
What can you do there?
The Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum or simply the City Palace Museum was established in 1959. The aim is to showcase the achievements of the maharajas and also educate visitors on the region’s history.
Several areas inside this gorgeous building can be hired for group events. The Sukh Niwas or the Hall of Pleasure can hold up to 25 persons. The outdoor area like Pritam Niwas Chowk (House of the Beloved) can take up to 100 people, and part of the area that was until very recently the private residence of the royal family can also be used for small events of up to 25 persons.
Mona Kapoor, deputy general manager of Distant Frontiers, comments: “The venue is very regal and royal, and takes you back to another era and shows you how the royalty lived in the past.”
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Email: info@iamm.org.my
The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM), located at the natural surroundings of Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens, is the largest Islamic art museum in Southeast Asia.
Why is it special?
The IAMM houses more than 7,000 artefacts and a library of Islamic-art books. The aim of the museum is to create a collection that is truly representative of the Islamic world. Instead of concentrating on works from the heartlands of Persia and the Middle East, the museum also puts an emphasis on Asia. The style of the building is modern, with an Islamic feel created by the details rather than by the structure itself.
What can you do there?
Your group can join a variety of workshops and seminars that cater specifically to adults. Taught by highly experienced teachers who specialise in their area of expertise, you would be able to learn the skill of making art and crafts as well as appreciating the values of Islamic art.
Wellington, New Zealand
Te Papa – New Zealand National Museum
Email: mail@tepapa.govt.nz
Te Papa, which is translated as “My Place”, is located on the Wellington waterfront within walking distance of many major hotels in the city. The museum aims to be a celebration of New Zealand’s identity – the people, the culture and the environment.
Why is it special?
Te Papa is one of the most comprehensive national museums in the world. Exhibitions range from historic artefacts to modern interactive displays. Highlights of the museum include virtual bungy jumping, a day in the life of a junk shop and the chance to walk through a recreated habitat of an island, which includes native trees and shrubs, a lagoon, stream and underground cave.
What can you do there?
Different sizes of venues are offered in the museum, from rooms with stylish decorations and waterfront views to theatres with seatings for 328 people. The museum has its own catering service called “Te Papa Icon Catering”, which provides an extensive range of menus. They also help your group design your own menu. A special team from the museum provides extensive services catering to any of your events, whether it’s corporate or private event.
Singapore
Red Dot Traffic
Email: info@reddottraffic.com
Transformed from the former traffic police headquarters’ new persona, the Red Dot Traffic building combines a design museum, creative services, lifestyle organisations and food and beverage outlets together into this 1920s colonial building.
Why is it special?
The red dot is an internationally recognised label for excellent design. The Red Dot design museum in Singapore is the second such museum in the world. It is the physical personification of the Red Dot Design Awards and an exclusive exhibition venue for red dot design award winners. The museum also provides important orientation to businesses, design professionals consumers on what or who has the best design.
What can you do there?
The museum offers workshops and seminars about design and design processes, design proficiency and design commercialisation knowledge and it has recently become a popular event venue in Singapore. Its event spaces generate an atmosphere of creativity with its location and heritage architecture. The annual Red Dot Design Awards celebrations, which is an important event in the design directory, also takes place in the museum. It has been transformed into a video hall, and a catwalk stage to honour and celebrate winners of the award.
The two galleries inside can hold up to 600 people all together and the two rooftop terraces can take up to 450 people.
Recent events:
• Coach/CK fashion season launches
• Intel, STB, Sony Ericcson Press Announcement
• Creative regional event – onedotzero
• Rolls-Royce concept car launch
Seoul, South Korea
Papertainer Museum
Tel: (+822) 421 5577
www.papertainer.co.kr (Korean only)
Papertainer Museum, located inside the Olympic Park in southern Seoul, is an eco-friendly and recyclable museum that has been constructed by paper and old cargo containers. According to the designer’s concept, paper is civilisation’s messenger and a preserver of culture, while the containers signify trade. Together they symbolise the world’s culture and art.
Why is it special?
The museum structure consists of 373 paper tubes and 166 cargo containers. The 10m-tall paper tubes form a colonnade to create gallery spaces within. The paper structure is completely safe from water or fire because the paper is used in very high density. As the architecture is easy to take apart and reconstruct elsewhere, the museum can even be moved.
What can you do there?
There are two permanent exhibitions inside. One is the “Paper Gallery” which exhibits 68 photographic and painted portrayals of famous female figures in Korean history. The works are on the paper hanging from the ceiling under title “Spotlight on 30 Women”. The other one is the “Container Gallery”, which focuses on marketing and features images of designers’ works of 30 household brands, including Nike and Korean icon Samsung Anycall.
Also, in between the 37 containers is a space dedicated to other exhibitions and events, where Calvin Klein Jeans and Underwear recently held a major product show. n
