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Venue Information


Courtyard During the Day


The Courtyard Mission


The Illini Union Courtyard was created to provide students with a unique service having three distinct purposes or "personalities" throughout the week.

During the day, the Courtyard is a place to visit informally, grab a beverage or snack between meetings or classes, watch television and/or attend a noon-time program.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, the Courtyard becomes a "student nightclub" featuring popular professional and student entertainment, and also provides a social alternative to the campus bar scene.

On other nights, events such as lectures, debates and performances are presented.

Guidelines for Sponsoring Programs in the Courtyard


(Revised 10/10/03)

  1. All programs held in the Courtyard Café must be open to the entire university community. Participants must be UIUC students or 18 years of age with valid ID.
  2. As the Courtyard Café is not reservable space, programs are selected based upon program proposals that describe program content and all related details. Courtyard Café manager and/or Multimedia Manager must approve program proposals before a “Use of University Facilities” form is submitted for processing. Generally, program proposals should be submitted 4-6 weeks prior to the proposed event date (see #4).
  3. Program sponsors may not use the space for activities that:

    1. Violate or incite others to violate any law, policy of the Board of Trustees, or University regulations,
    2. Involve direct commercial solicitation, or
    3. Involve raising funds for the benefit of any off-campus organizations or individuals.
  4. A sponsoring organization must be a Registered Student Organization (RSO) in good standing, a university department or the Illini Union Board. An RSO must have its events approved by the RSO office (Illini Union room 280) after the program proposal has been reviewed by the Courtyard Café Manager or Multimedia Manager (see #2). Organizations or individuals not affiliated with the university may not sponsor programs or events in the Courtyard Café.
  5. Facility and technical costs to the sponsoring organization are as follows:

    1. Organizations sponsoring programs that charge an admission fee must pay to the Illini Union 10% of all ticket/admission sales.
    2. When no admission is charged for an event, the sponsoring organization will be billed $50 for facility rental.
    3. All Courtyard events require one technician minimum, and additional techs depending on the event. The sponsoring organization will be billed for all tech time and ticket taker time when there is an admission charge.
    4. The Illini Union Board will not be assessed a facility fee, but will be responsible for the payment of technical fees.
  6. Approval to sponsor programs in the Courtyard Café presumes that the sponsoring organization will abide by “University Regulations Governing the Use of University Premises.” Program sponsors must abide by all university and Illini Union regulations.
  7. Audio-visual equipment is available on a limited basis from the Illini Union Courtyard Café and should be requested when proposing an event. (Ask for details.) Sound and lighting equipment is also available and requires operation by Illini Union staff. All sponsoring organizations will be charged for labor costs associated with operating the audiovisual, sound and light equipment.
  8. Persons in charge of sponsored events are responsible for the safety of persons attending and for the maintenance of the room’s original condition.

    1. Attendance at any event is limited to the established capacity of the room (449 people).
    2. Smoking is prohibited in the Illini Union.
    3. Moshing, crowd surfing and/or similar behaviors are prohibited.
    4. Attendees must be UIUC students or 18 years of age with valid identification.
    5. Exits must open readily and be accessible at all times. During the period of use, no required exit door may be fastened so that the door cannot be opened readily from the inside by use of ordinary doorknobs or by pressure on the crash bar. Exit ways serving the room must be adequately lit at all times during which the room is occupied.
    6. Materials used as decorations must be fire resistant or flame proofed in accordance with the bulleting Flame Proofed Textiles– NEPA No. 701.1969. Copy is located at the Division of Environmental Health & Safety.
    7. The use of candles as lights or for decorative purposes is prohibited.
  9. The use of tape, glue, thumbtacks, or adhesive on the walls, ceilings, frames, columns, or staging to attach any material is not permitted. Suspending materials from the ceiling or light fixtures is prohibited, as are decorations, displays, or exhibits that require flame or water. Pictures may not be removed from the walls.
  10. The Illini Union does not assume responsibility for damage to or loss of any materials left in the building on display or in storage.
  11. All groups using the Courtyard Café will be responsible for any and all damages in the area, no matter how caused (normal wear and tear expected). There will be extra charges for labor when an excessive amount of cleaning is required to return the area to a condition adequate for continued use. Alteration of room setups without approval may also result in labor charges.
  12. The sponsoring organization will be responsible for complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA mandates that interpreters be made available to those attending programs in facilities such as the Courtyard Café.

    1. Organizations sponsoring programs in the Courtyard Café must include the following statement on all promotional materials: "Accommodation for hearing-impaired patrons is available by calling 244-8938 at least seven days in advance of the event."
    2. When a patron contacts the Courtyard Café Manager to make arrangements for a specific program (within the guidelines described above), the Courtyard Café Manager will forward requests to the contact person from the sponsoring organization.
    3. The Courtyard Café Manager will be able to help in making the arrangements (either with the listening-assisted device or with a list of interpreters to use as a reference resource), but responsibility for costs associated with the arrangements is with the sponsoring organization.
  13. The sponsoring organization will provide an RSO account number, university account number or credit card number and will be responsible for all costs associated with the event including, but not limited to:

    1. Staff required by the Illini Union.
    2. Interpreters for hearing-impaired patrons (see #12).
  14. The sponsoring organization will be responsible for providing adequate volunteers/staff, as determined by the Illini Union, to monitor the activity of persons attending and to insure the safety of the persons attending and of university property. Crowd control and exiting of the building at closing will be the responsibility of the sponsoring organization.
  15. The sponsoring organization will be responsible for all pertinent arrangements, including loading or unloading of performer(s) and their equipment, under the approval and direction of the Illini Union.
  16. Copy of contracts and contractual agreements for sponsored events, including contracts with performers or their agents, must be made available to the Courtyard Café Manager prior to program approval.
  17. All ticket sales, advanced or at the door, will be conducted by Illini Union staff unless the event is sponsored by the Illini Union Board. All costs associated with the sale of tickets will be the responsibility of the sponsoring organization.

    1. Organizations sponsoring programs that charge an admission fee must pay to the Illini Union 10% of all ticket/admission sales.
    2. Printed tickets must be provided to the Illini Union by the sponsoring organization at least 48 hours in advance of sales to be conducted at the door. Advanced ticket sales, or any tickets sold by Illini Union Ticket Central, will be done in accordance with Ticket Central policy and procedure.
    3. Two copies of lists of complimentary guests must be provided in typed format to the Illini Union 48 hours in advance of the event.
    4. Ticket sales and complimentary guests may not exceed the established room capacity.
    5. Ticket prices must be consistent; one ticket price for all University of Illinois students. Faculty, staff, and guest tickets may be sold at a higher rate than that charged for students, but the price must be uniform to the group and to the event.
  18. All events scheduled in the Courtyard Café will begin no sooner than one hour after building opening and will end no later than one half hour before building closing.
  19. Representatives from the sponsoring organization must provide a copy of all promotional literature they will distribute or post to the Courtyard Café Manager at least two weeks prior to the event. Program sponsors also must include the statement outlined in Provision #12-a.
  20. While it is generally understood that food will not be provided to event participants due to the existence of a retail operation, the Courtyard Café Manager will consider requests to include food as a component of the program content. In these situations, the Courtyard Café Manager will offer Espresso Royale Caffe the first opportunity to provide catering. If Espresso Royale agrees to provide catering for the event, the sponsoring organization may then work with Espresso Royale on the details of said catering. If Espresso Royale declines, the sponsoring organization may contact Illini Union Catering for assistance with said catering.

Failure to abide by these policies, or failure to abide by university regulations, may result in cancellation of currently scheduled programs, or may prohibit organization from scheduling future events.