On Saturday, August 23, Southampton Arts Center (SAC) 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, 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 showcasing local restaurants.
Guests 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 27th. The exhibition is a testament to Christine Mack’s collection of contemporary art with a keen eye to the future.
photo by Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com ©2025 [email protected] 516-676-3939
Honoree Christine Mack stated after receiving the 2025 Champion of the Arts award, “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 4 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.
