HONORING 

SUZANNE JACKSON, BETH RUDIN DEWOODY, FOUNDATION FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS, & JUD REIS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2026

6:30 PM COCKTAILS | 7:30 PM DINNER | 9:30 PM AFTER-PARTY

THE GRILL & THE POOL, SEAGRAM BUILDING, NYC

The Skowhegan 2026 Awards Dinner will feature cocktails, a seated dinner, an Awards Ceremony, and an After-Party. Suzanne Jackson will receive a Medal for Painting, presented by Jenny Gheith, in celebration of Suzanne's innovative, boundary-pushing practice and her longstanding commitment to supporting and uplifting artistic communities. The Governors’ Awards for Service to Artists will be given to Foundation for Contemporary Arts (FCA) presented by Haruna Lee and accepted by Cecily Brown & Okwui Okpokwasili, in admiration of FCA’s direct support to more than 8,000 artists and arts organizations totaling $31.5 million since its founding in 1963 by Jasper Johns and John Cage. And we will recognize Beth Rudin DeWoody with the Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney Award for Patronage of the Arts, presented by Anne Pasternak, in celebration of Beth's passionate commitment to supporting and nurturing emerging artists. 2026 is Skowhegan’s 80th Anniversary, and we are thrilled to confer the second Lifetime Legacy Award to Trustee Jud Reis, presented by Jane Hammond, with gratitude for his remarkable leadership, commitment, and contributions to the School and its mission over nearly four decades. The After Party will feature performances by special guests, Jonah Mutono and DJ Tokyo Rose.

Special thanks to the 2026 Awards Dinner Co-Chairs: Eleanor Acquavella, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Chiara Edmands, Jennie C. Jones (A96 F14), Bernard Lumpkin & Carmine Boccuzzi, Greg & Susie Palm, Paula J. Volent, Susy & Jack Wadsworth; and to After-Party Co-Chairs: Baseera Khan A14, Jeffrey Meris A19, and Matthew McCardwell.

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To support or purchase tickets/tables via wire, check, DAF, or foundation gift, please reach out to Cerrie Bamford via email at cbamford@skowheganart.org or phone 212-529-0505.

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In 1971, to mark its 25th Anniversary, Skowhegan hosted our first Awards Dinner in New York City at the Plaza Hotel. More than 50 years later, the event remains our single largest annual fundraiser. Proceeds enable us to successfully run our internationally celebrated School and maintain a need-blind admissions policy, ensuring that artists are accepted to Skowhegan for potential and demonstrated talent, rather than financial circumstance.