The Great Neck Arts Center celebrated the opening of its second annual Gold Coast Film Festival with a gala at historic Oheka Castle on Wednesday night, honoring local artistic and political figures and raising funds for the arts center’s operations.
Town of North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman also formally announced plans at the gala for the town’s local development corporation to purchase the art center’s Middle Neck Road headquarters. The deal, which was greenlighted by the North Hempstead town council Tuesday night, would provide the debt-laden nonprofit with financial stability and change its name to the Gold Coast Arts Center to reflect the center’s reach from Suffolk County to Queens.
The event, which featured a silent auction, a book signing by bestselling thriller author Nelson DeMille and musical performances, was deemed a success by the arts center’s Executive Director Regina Gil.
“I think it’s going brilliantly,” said Gil during the gala’s cocktail hour. “[The gala’s success] says that this is a region of aspirations of maintaining and growing the quality of living in terms of education and culture.”
The art center was expected to raise approximately $200,000 from the event, according to Gil.
Associate director Caroline Sorokoff praised the arts center’s effect on communities from Suffolk County and Queens at a pre-dinner address.
“The thing that most people don’t know about are the outreach programs that help thousands of people every year,” she said, noting the art center’s after-school programs, teacher trainings and anti-bullying workshops.
Gil took the stage next and commented on the arts center’s resilience in coping with what she called the hardest year since its founding.
The arts center has lost funding from several surrounding villages in recent years, as the economic downturn put a crunch on municipal budgets. The town’s plan would have the development corporation pay off the arts center’s $800,000 mortgage and cover debt payments on the proposed $3.5 million bond for a decade, during which time Kaiman said the arts center should be able to develop enough new revenue to offset the debt costs.
Real estate investor Michael Lamoretti of Great Neck was named the arts center’s man of the year and was credited as an instrumental ally of the arts center. In his acceptance speech, Lamoretti said that he was overwhelmed by the award.
“The arts center has really become personal to me,” he said.
Local author Nelson DeMille, whose bestselling suspense novels include “The Gold Coast,” “The General’s Daughter” and newly released “The Panther,” was granted the Gold Coast Legend award.
According to Demille, the gala was the highlight of his recent publicity tour promoting his new novel.
“I have been all over going to book signings, but so far this is the best thing I’ve done,” he said.
Earlier in the evening, DeMille signed copies of “The Panther” for gala attendees in the castle’s library.
“I think this whole idea of the Gold Coast Film Festival is a wonderful idea,” he said. “There’s so much talent on Long Island. We have a movie making history here.”
Gil also honored retiring 5th District Congressman Gary Ackerman (D), who is not seeking re-election following redistricting that incorporated much of his district, including his Roslyn Heights home, into Rep. Steve Israel’s district.
Gil said Ackerman was a dedicated supporter of the arts center and was instrumental in securing funding for the arts center’s outreach programs.
“We are grateful to this man for his support of the arts and the under-served in this district,” Gil said.
In addition to dinner and speeches, attendees witnessed performances from Uniondale High School show choir Rhythm of the Night and cabaret performer KT Sullivan.
Film festival director Aviva Miller said the night greatly exceeded her expectations.
“I think it’s huge,” Miller said. “Nassau County and North Hempstead have stepped forward and taken a stand that the arts won’t die.”
