2012 Past Benefit Gala

25 years of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
November 29, 2012

Artists, diplomats, philanthropists, and arts patrons from around the world gathered in Washington, DC, to celebrate 25 years of achievement at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, as well as the Sackler’s ambitious plans for the future.

Gala attendees enjoyed a spectacular evening of art, fine Asian-inspired cuisine, and a performance by celebrated violinist Hahn-Bin. Afterward, guests joined the Club Caravan after-party, hosted by the Silk Road Society, featuring DJ Ani Quinn and sweet delicacies.

During four days of activities around the gala, patrons enjoyed a lecture on contemporary art in the Middle East by MoMA Director Glenn Lowry, witnessed an explosion event by artist Cai Guo-Qiang, joined exclusive tours of museum storage, and attended embassy dinner parties. Other highlights included an Asian Art and Culture Book Fair and the premiere of the immersive 3D digital experience “Pure Land: Inside the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang.”

The celebration capped a year of festivities, including receptions in New York, DC, London, Shanghai, and Beijing. And while the gala celebrated 25 years of landmark exhibitions and scholarship, it also launched the Sackler’s future, raising more than $1 million for an endowment to support contemporary art. The 25th Anniversary Gala was generously underwritten by Mrs. Arthur M. Sackler, allowing all proceeds to go directly to the endowment.

To bring home a memento of the gala celebration, we invite you to purchase the official Sackler 25th Anniversary Gala commemorative tablecloth overlay. This elegant keepsake is exclusively produced by luxury textile purveyor Scalamandré in the sumptuous Chinoise Exotique print, shown below. The limited-edition table coverings—which elevated the dazzling evening into an arena of high fashion—measure 90” by 90” and can be yours for $150. All proceeds benefit the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.