Emerging Talent and Legendary Artists Celebrated The YoungArts Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

On Monday evening, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, emerging talent and patrons of the arts convened to celebrate the YoungArts Gal, which supports artists in film, music, poetry, dance, and more.

As guests trickled into the museum’s Great Hall, they found themselves awestruck by the melodic strains of David Lin’s harp. Lin, a 2024 YoungArts awardee for classical music, offered attendees a harmonious prelude to the evening’s celebrations.

As hors d’oeuvres and champagne glasses were passed, luminaries from the art world arrived in resplendent fashion; Misty Copeland graced the scene in a black floral bustier dress, while Agnes Gund shimmered in a sequined black jacket. Meanwhile, legendary danseur Mikhail Baryshnikov wore a sumptuous velvet suit with a maroon scarf (safe to say, the sartorial splendor fell in line with yesterday’s solar eclipse).

At half past 7:00 PM, guests made their way into the turquoise-lit Temple of Dendur. While dinner was served, members of YoungArts took the stage, showcasing their mastery of dance, poetry, and song with gripping performances. “I might sound biased, but this is actually my favorite evening of the entire year,” Sarah Arison, gala and board chair of YoungArts, tells guests in her opening remarks. “I am so grateful to you all for being here, and for being engaged with YoungArts, and for supporting tonight. It is such a thrill to meet these inspiring artists on this stage, and to celebrate them that way as well.”

The organization has granted awards to several notable artists, whose talents have illuminated the world stage, including Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Hunter Schafer, Amanda Gorman, Billy Porter, and many more. “We see artists as the thinkers, the creators, the storytellers, and the change-makers of society,” said Clive Chang, president of YoungArts. “And we see our charge as an institution clearly: to support their livelihood, their work, and their ideas to the fullest extent possible.”

After a final song and contemporary dance performance by YoungArts members, guests were treated to copious amounts of decadent salted caramel and dark chocolate cake, concluding the lively evening with a sweet finish.