SOUTHAMPTON ARTS CENTER HOSTS 10TH ANNUAL SUMMERFEST GALA HONORING CHRISTINE MACK

SOUTHAMPTON ARTS CENTER HOSTS 10TH ANNUAL SUMMERFEST GALA HONORING CHRISTINE MACK

The Southampton Arts Center (SAC) welcomed nearly 500 guests on Saturday, August 23, for its highly anticipated SummerFest Gala, a vibrant evening celebrating art, community, and philanthropy. This year’s gala honored Christine Mack, recipient of the 2025 Champion of the Arts Award, in recognition of her outstanding dedication to the arts and her founding of the Mack Art Foundation and Greenpoint Studios, a residency program supporting emerging artists beyond New York City.

The festive evening was co-chaired by Alina de Almeida and John Paulson, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Aima and Agha Khan, Simone and David Levinson, and Phyllis and William Mack. Guests were welcomed with a lively cocktail reception featuring culinary tastings from beloved local eateries, including Clamman/Seasons of Southampton, El Verano, Golden Pear, Hamptons Gifts and Events, Saaz, Shippy’s, and Easthampton Shuckers. Specialty cocktails and mocktails by Society De La Rassi, Frank August, LALO, and Adamas set the tone for the evening, as guests mingled, sampled small plates, and explored Beyond the Present: Collecting for the Future, the current exhibition curated by Natasha Schlesinger and SAC Executive Director Christina Mossaides Strassfield.

Following the reception, attendees gathered in SAC’s garden for a memorable dinner prepared by Acquolina Catering, where multi-color floral arrangements adorned tables splattered with painterly designs, illuminated by twinkling fairy lights. The atmosphere was further elevated by a soulful performance from saxophonist Eric Knight, before DJ Cyril brought the dance floor to life. The evening’s guest list included a host of distinguished patrons and art world supporters, such as Sylvia Hemingway, Kim Heirston, Jane Holzer, Austin Lee & Susu, Fern Mallis, Mayor Bill Manger, Jean Shafiroff, Bettina Zilkha, and many others, joined by members of the SAC board.

The highlight of the gala came midway through the evening when Southampton Mayor William Manger Jr. presented Christine Mack with a proclamation, acknowledging her contributions to the arts. SAC co-founder Simone Levinson spoke about the organization’s mission, remarking:
“At Southampton Arts Center we have a safe space. It allows for us to have the hard conversations, and to engage in them with compassion and respect. I have always found that art gives language where words fail, and we are that platform for bridge building.”

Christine Mack then took the stage to accept the Champion of the Arts Award, reflecting on her journey as a collector and advocate:

“I didn’t realize I had so much art and never saw myself as an art collector. But I agreed to do this because I wanted to hang the art of my artists in residence. I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight these young artists that don’t get enough recognition.”

She movingly recalled a moment when one of her artists drove from Brooklyn to thank her for “making her dreams come true.”

Proceeds from the gala will allow Southampton Arts Center to continue presenting four exhibitions and 150 programs annually, spanning film, music, dance, theater, children’s programming, talks, wellness, and workshops. Each year, SAC welcomes over 45,000 visitors, advancing its mission of community building through the arts while contributing to the vitality of the East End.

For more information, visit southamptonartscenter.org or follow SAC on Instagram and Facebook at @southamptonartscenter.