By: Sierra Deonne

On Saturday, August 23, Southampton Arts Center (SAC) hosted its annual SummerFest, drawing nearly 500 guests to celebrate SAC and its 2025 Champion of the Arts Award honoree, Christine Mack, recognized for her contributions to the arts and for founding the Mack Art Foundation and Greenpoint Studios, a residency program that supports emerging artists from outside New York City.

The event, 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, began with a cocktail reception featuring tastings from local eateries such as Clamman/Seasons of Southampton, El Verano, Golden Pear, Hamptons Gifts and Events, Saaz, Shippy’s, and Easthampton Shuckers. This was followed by dancing with DJ Cyril. Guests enjoyed passed small plates and cocktails, including mocktails by Society De La Rassi, Frank August, LALO, and Adamas, as they explored the exhibition Beyond the Present: Collecting for the Future, curated by Natasha Schlesinger and Executive Director of Southampton Arts Center, Christina Mossaides Strassfield. On view through September 27, the exhibition showcases Christine Mack’s collection of contemporary art with a focus on emerging talents. Her mission is to collect and support these artists through the Mack Art Foundation.

After the cocktail hour, dinner by Acquolina Catering was served in the garden, where guests admired multi-color floral arrangements and playful paint-splattered tables under glittering fairy lights. 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, and Bettina Zilkha.

Midway through the event, Southampton Mayor William Manger Jr. addressed the crowd to present a proclamation to Christine Mack. Following this, Southampton Arts Center founder Simone Levinson thanked attendees and discussed the importance of SAC.

Levinson shared, “At Southampton Arts Center, we provide a welcoming space that encourages important conversations, which we engage in with compassion and respect. Art often gives us a language when words alone aren’t enough, and we serve as a platform for building bridges.”

Honoree Christine Mack then took the stage to accept the 2025 Champion of the Arts award from Levinson. She shared, “I never expected to collect art, but I agreed to do so because I wanted to showcase the work of the artists in residence. This was an opportunity to highlight young artists who may not always get the recognition they deserve.” She also recalled an artist who drove all the way from Brooklyn to thank her for making her dreams a reality.

Proceeds from the event help SAC provide a diverse range of exhibitions and programs each year. SAC welcomes over 45,000 visitors annually, who enjoy a variety of offerings, including film, music, dance, theater, children’s events, talks, wellness programs, and workshops. These programs support SAC’s mission of community building through the arts and contribute to the vitality of the local economy by supporting area businesses.

Media Sponsors for the event included Cultured and Purist.

About Southampton Arts Center

Southampton Arts Center is dedicated to enriching the community by providing access to the arts. We offer a diverse range of programs across various disciplines, ensuring they are inclusive and relevant to the social fabric of the East End and beyond. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, SAC plays an essential role in bringing people together through creative experiences.

To learn more about Southampton Arts Center, located at 25 Jobs Lane, Southampton, NY 11968, please visit southamptonartscenter.org or call 631.283.0967. Connect with SAC on social media via Facebook and Instagram @southamptonartscenter. For press inquiries, email SAC at pr@southamptoncenter.org.

This exhibition has been sponsored in part with General Operating Support by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Governor, the New York State Legislature, and the Suffolk County Office of Cultural Affairs