The Big Group appointed as MCA Australia’s new hospitality partner

The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia) has appointed leading hospitality agency, The Big Group, as the Museum’s new functions and venue hospitality partner.

The Big Group will commence renovations at MCA Australia from mid-May with plans to open the first phase of its hospitality offer in June 2024 alongside revitalised event and venue spaces and a contemporary vision for food and beverage offerings across the Museum.

A new MCA cafe will open in mid-June on the ground floor of the MCA Australia building, presenting a harbourside welcome to the Museum and a new offering to Sydneysiders arriving to Circular Quay each day, reinvigorating the Waterside terrace at Tallawoladah and looking out to the spectacular site of Warrane, Sydney Harbour. A second phase of the new hospitality offer on the MCA Australia's Level 4 will be unveiled in September.

The Big Group is one of Australia’s leading hospitality agencies with over 30 years' experience. The company employs 1,200 staff across eventing, logistics, creative, food production, planning, sales and marketing, and business management. The Big Group is well known for its partnerships with many of Australia’s most significant events including the Grand Prix, the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Australian Open and AFL, who collectively accommodate more than one million guests per year. This partnership marks the first time The Big Group has collaborated with a major art Museum in Sydney.

Bruce Keebaugh, founder and owner of The Big Group enthused “we are incredibly excited to partner with The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and to bring innovative ideas and our expertise to the Museum, delivering the art of Australian hospitality via world-class, exceptional food and hospitality to visitors, partners and clients.

“MCA Australia is a globally recognised cultural destination in Sydney. We want to establish a place where great art and great food co-exists, and where visitors can engage more deeply with both, whilst enjoying the magnificent views of Warrane, Sydney Harbour at Circular Quay.”

Suzanne Cotter, Director, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia added “we could not be happier to be working with The Big Group as we look to ensure the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is one of Sydney’s great cultural destinations. With our exceptional location at Tallawoladah and a gateway to The Rocks Precinct and Sydney’s CBD, we want every visitor to the MCA Australia to have the opportunity to encounter the best Australia can offer, from the art we present to the sense of welcome and inclusivity for all as a truly contemporary cultural experience.”

The current MCA Cafe on Level 4 will remain open until mid-June. The Level 4 space will then close for renovations until Spring, when an exciting new hospitality venue and offer will be unveiled. Public access to the Loti Smorgon Sculpture Terrace on Level 4 to view Reko Rennie’s powerful sculpture commission Remember Us (2023) will continue throughout this time.

MCA Australia’s event and function spaces will be updated with sensitive heritage alterations made to the Foundation Hall which is dedicated to MCA programming and events, and functional and interior design changes made to Level 6 venue rooms. More information will be available over the coming months.

MCA Australia would like to thank and acknowledge the Culinary Edge team at Graze Restaurant whose last day of service was on 4th May 2024, and The Fresh Collective catering team at MCA Cafe on Level 4 which will close on 16th June 2024, for all their hard work and dedication to world class service over the years at the Museum.

Image top: The Big Group founder Bruce Keebaugh, MCA Australia Director Suzanne Cotter, MCA Australia Chair Lorraine Tarabay, photographer Jacquie Manning. Image centre: MCA Venues 2022 Credit Jacquie Manning; Image below: MCA Cafe concept interior