Trainings, mid-sized meetings and company retreats for up to 75 seated participants, and receptions for up to 150 guests, can be held at Schweinfurth House, a contemporary home on the campus of Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mount Vernon, Illinois. The house stands at the wooded north end of the campus, away from the museum building, which gives groups a private setting.
Seminars and company events
Cedarhurst rents Schweinfurth House for business events through its Work Week program, which covers daytime events from Monday to Friday ending by 5 pm. The building includes a main meeting area, breakout space and an on-site board room. Rentals include table and chair setup, a sound system, a 1080p projector with a 7-foot screen, Wi-Fi, on-site parking and an event coordinator who stays on duty. Groups can add the nearby Mitchell House as extra breakout space, request after-hours access, or book a museum tour or an art session for attendees. Across its venues, Cedarhurst has hosted training seminars, company retreats, community luncheons and mid-sized conferences.
Weddings and receptions
Through its special event rentals, Cedarhurst hosts weddings, holiday parties, class reunions, showers and other celebrations. At Schweinfurth House, a reception of up to 150 guests can use the house and the back lawn by the pond. No rental may run past midnight, including cleanup. Tents are allowed at a spot approved by Cedarhurst, and the center recommends one for any outdoor event in case of bad weather.
Rooms and capacities
Guests enter through a glass atrium with long, open rooms on either side. Indoors, the house seats 75 for a meeting and takes 150 for a reception. The back lawn holds another 150 for a reception, next to a water feature. The dining room and atrium open onto the yard and pond. The building has wide doorways and several restrooms and is accessible. Because Cedarhurst is a museum, candles, open flames, smoke or bubble machines, glitter and tape on walls are not permitted, and Cedarhurst staff set up tables and chairs.
Catering
The renter arranges catering and decor. The house has its own kitchen for the chosen caterer to work from, and linens and place settings can be added to the rental.
History and setting
Cedarhurst Center for the Arts spreads over about 80 acres in Mount Vernon. Its main building, the Mitchell Museum, pairs a classic marble facade with an extension added in 2008. The campus also includes Mitchell House, the former home of founders John and Eleanor Mitchell, and a sculpture park with more than 60 large-scale works, two ponds, woods and walking trails. Groups at Schweinfurth House can use the trails during breaks.
Getting there
Cedarhurst is at 2600 Richview Road in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Schweinfurth House has on-site parking for up to 32 vehicles. The museum galleries are open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, so weekday meetings share the campus with visitors while the house itself stays private.
