Southampton Arts Center Honors Christine Mack At SummerFest Gala

On Saturday, August 23, Southampton Arts Center celebrated the annual SummerFest Gala, welcoming nearly 500 guests to celebrate SAC and its 2025 Champion of the Arts Award winner, Christine Mack, in recognition of her dedication to the arts and founding the Mack Art Foundation and Greenpoint Studios, a residency program supporting emerging artists from outside New York City.

The gala, which 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, kicked off with a cocktail reception featuring tastings from local eateries including Clamman/Seasons of Southampton, El Verano, Golden Pear, Hamptons Gifts and Events, Saaz, Shippy’s and Easthampton Shuckers followed by dancing with DJ Cyril. Guests enjoyed passed small plates and sipped on cocktails and mocktails by Society De La Rassi, Frank August, LALO and Adamas, as they were invited to visit “Beyond the Present: Collecting for the Future,” the exhibition curated by Natasha Schlesinger and Executive Director of Southampton Arts Center, Christina Mossaides Strassfield, on view through September 27. The exhibition is a testament to Christine Mack’s collection of contemporary art with a keen eye to the future. Her mission is to collect and holistically nurture these talents through the Mack Art Foundation.

Following the cocktail hour, a beautiful dinner by Acquolina Catering was served in the garden, where guests found multi-color floral arrangements and funky paint-splattered tables with fairy lights that glittered from above. The evening, complemented by saxophonist Eric Knight, was attended by Southampton Arts Center board members and supporters including Jamee & Peter Gregory, Sylvia Hemingway, Kim Heirston, Jane Holzer, Elyn & Jeff Kronemeyer, Austin Lee & Susu, NancyJane & Jeff Loewy, Fern Mallis, Mayor Bill Manger, John Monsky & Jennifer Weis, Fairley Pilaro & Joe Messina, Aima Raza & Agha Khan, Nicole & Allen Salmasi, Siamak Samii, Rebecca Seawright, Jean Shafiroff, Chris Smith, J. Whitney Stevens, Paul Travis & Mark Fichandler, Helena Wilner Vahradian and Rob Vahradian, Paula Viscogliosi, Marcy and Michael Warren and Bettina Zilkha.

Midway through the event, the Southampton Mayor William Manger Jr. took the floor to present a proclamation to Christine Mack before Southampton Arts Center founder Simone Levinson thanked everyone for attending and spoke about the importance of the SAC.

Levinson stated, “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.”

Honoree Christine Mack then took the stage to receive the 2025 Champion of the Arts award from Levinson. She stated, “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 also recounted her opening, where one of her artists drove all the way from Brooklyn and thanked Christine for making her dreams come true.

Proceeds from the event allow SAC to provide four world-class exhibitions and 150 programs annually. Yearly, SAC welcomes over 45,000 visitors who enjoy film, music, dance, theater, children’s events, talks, wellness programs, and workshops.