Primary Purpose
Description
An open house is an event that the agency hosts to share information and allow for informal conversation with members of the public. Open houses typically include several stations or booths staffed by subject matter experts. People are free to drop in at any point during an established time period to get information or chat with agency staff. Stations address different topics and are set up to allow the public to move through them at their own pace. Depending on the number of people who attend, you may have extensive one-on-one discussions with members of the public, or people may gather in small groups for informal discussions. Open houses can also include non-agency displays where sister agencies or community groups present information at their own booth or station.
Sometimes open houses are held in conjunction with other events, such as a more formal public meeting. The open house might be held before a meeting to provide information, while the meeting is reserved for formal presentations and collecting public comments.
Outcomes
Open houses provide information and allow members of the public to speak directly to agency staff and subject matter experts. Open houses can provide a relaxed, informal, and convenient venue for people to learn more about an issue or proposal ahead of a more formal meeting or comment period.
Time considerations
Open houses involve significant staff time for event preparation and advertising. However, the events themselves typically only last several hours.
Sometimes it can be helpful to host a series of open houses if the agency needs to share information across a large geographic area.
Staffing
Open houses can require more staff than other public meetings. Each station or booth will need to have at least one staff person prepare materials and attend the open house. Staff will need to be prepared to share information and answer questions.
Materials
- Venue capable of holding multiple stations and simultaneous conversations
- Booths or stations with informational material (e.g. tables with maps, copies of proposals, flyers, FAQs)
- Sign-in sheets and/or name tags (optional)
- Easel pads to record comments or input (optional)
- Light snacks and/or beverages (optional)