Guild Hall Benefit Raises Over $750,000

As the sun set over the 17th-century Mulford Farm in East Hampton on Friday, August 19, 400 dinner guests settled in for an evening celebrating Guild Hall and its 2022 Summer Gala honoree, philanthropist Kathy Rayner.

Rayner was recognized for her establishment of The Guild Hall William P. Rayner Artist-in-Residence program in honor of her late husband, artist Billy Rayner, which offers artist collectives the time and space to research, experiment, and develop new ideas while living on the East End. Celebrating the creative process and the people who champion it, the annual benefit raised over $750,000 in support of Guild Hall’s year-round interdisciplinary programs.

The lavish event was attended by an eclectic mix of Guild Hall supporters, including Rayner, Bjorn Amelan and Bill T. Jones, Estrellita and Daniel Brodsky, Marty and Michele Cohen, DJ Spooky, Florence and Richard Fabricant, Ralph Gibson and Mary Jane Marcasiano, RoseLee Goldberg, Peter Marino, American Ballet Theatre dancers Jose Sebastian and Chloe Misseldine, Stefano Tonchi, Lyn and E.T. Williams, Jr., and artists John Alexander, Alice Aycock, Ross Bleckner, Johan Creten, Eric Fischl, April Gornik, Alice Hope, Judy Hudson, Arcmanoro Niles, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Toni Ross, Bastienne Schmidt, Ned Smyth, and many more.

The dinner program began with a short video featuring Guild Hall off-site programs this season, followed by remarks from Guild Hall Board Chairman Marty Cohen and Executive Director Andrea Grover. Hamptons Dance Project’s Jose Sebastian and Chloe Misseldine, also 2022 artists-in-residence, performed a stunning pas de deux. Once dinner had been served, the program continued with a video tribute to Rayner, followed by a speech from Guild Hall Chief Philanthropy Officer Kristen Eberstadt. The honoree was brought to the stage and presented with two gifts: a canine portrait by artist Eric Fischl, and a pair of ballet slippers belonging to American Ballet Theatre’s Principal Dancer Catherine Hurlin, signed by the Hamptons Dance Project full company. Rayner closed out the program with a short, heartfelt speech.

“Every so often, a perfect collaboration is born between a philanthropist and a nonprofit,” said Grover. “Kathy Rayner has made one of those moments happen, and we were honored to recognize her vision and the first-year success of the Guild Hall William P. Rayner Artist-in-Residence program.”

After dinner and dessert, guests hit the dance floor to tunes by DJ MICK, where the celebration continued into the night.