ROSLYN HARBOR, NY.- Nassau County Museum of Art’s (NCMA) annual Museum Ball is a super event that is one of the most glittering dates of the North Shore social season. The elegant Ball is the museum's major annual fundraiser, providing an important component of the museum’s operating budget and helping to fund NCMA's ambitious schedule of original exhibitions and stimulating educational programs for adults, students and families. To mark the museum’s 20th anniversary, this year's Ball, to be held on Saturday, June 13 beginning at 7 pm, is a 20-Year Retrospective of the museum and pays tribute to Constance Schwartz, the museum’s former director and present director emeritus. Through her leadership, Nassau County Museum of Art has become Long Island’s major art center and one of the largest, best-regarded suburban art museums in the country.
The Ball is being chaired by Sharon Cullen Schechter of Matinecock. The vice chairs are Karen Bonheim, Joan Hope MacNaughton and Corky Paston. The Auction Committee co-chairs are Angela Susan Anton and Gayle Finkelman-Cohen. Michael Keenan of Wachovia Bank and Wells Fargo and Company is the chair of the Journal Committee. The Media Chair is Angela Susan Anton, the owner and publisher of Anton Publications and The Boulevard Magazine.
The Museum Ball is held in lavishly appointed tents on NCMA’s spectacular grounds, 145 acres of lush gardens, marked walking trails and a Sculpture Park encompassing more than 50 works. The evening is highlighted by artwork produced by Long Island students and includes live and silent auctions in the cocktail reception tent. Production and design assistance is provided by faculty from Nassau Community College led by Professors Pat Lupino and Joe Pescatore.
Honoree Constance Schwartz led Nassau County Museum of Art through a dynamic period of growth, one which saw extraordinary expansion in terms of the scope of exhibitions, extent of public programs, outreach to the Long Island community, membership, the creation of an outdoor sculpture park which has become one of the largest in the Northeast and the establishment of a museum building devoted to art exhibitions for children, the only such facility on Long Island. She was named director in 1992; prior to that she was chief curator from 1989, when the museum became a private, not-for-profit institution. The board of trustees has appointed her director emeritus, a position in which she is employing her extensive expertise and experience with varying responsibilities including developing and raising funds for the capital campaign for building expansion.
Members of the Ball Committee are Anne Byers, Eve Califano, Rita Castagna, Judie Chessin, Jill S. Citron, Lynn Citron, Jill Cohen, Ingeborg Costa, Victoria Crosby, Mrs. Vincent de Roulet, Mrs. Donald Finley, Lisa Golden, Esq., Laura Grey, Rebecca Hollander, Sherri Huseby, Lucille Jacobs, Edith Katz, Rita Kay, Carol Kingston, Arlene Levine, Pat Lupino, Christina Makowsky, Kay Maris, Donna Mazzei, Cora Michalis, Jeanne Farnan Mulry, Joe Pescatore, Ron Rizzo, Susan Schubach, Esther Schwartz, Mr. & Mrs. H. Brooks Smith, Margaret Stacey, James Tiberg, Dori Tilles, M. Patricia Janco-Tupper, Ali Yarkhan (list in formation).
Tickets to the 2009 Museum Ball on Saturday, June 13 at 7 pm, are $500 at the Individual level, $600 at the Friend level and $1,000 at the Patron level. Junior tickets, for those 40 and under, are $400 per person. Tickets at all levels are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
To receive an invitation or for information on donor packages, sponsorship opportunities or business partnerships or to inquire about journal advertising call (516) 484-9338, ext. 19.
