On the evening of December 9, 2025, more than 220 guests gathered at the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco’s Lincoln Park for one of the city’s most anticipated arts fundraisers. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) hosted its seasonal gala in the tented Court of Honor, with Honorary Chair and Chair Emerita Diane Wilsey presiding over the black-tie celebration.

The evening marked another milestone for FAMSF, which operates both the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum as San Francisco’s largest public arts institution. Gala co-chairs Alexandria Ashdown, Jack Calhoun, Stanlee Gatti, Lorna Meyer Calas, Kathryn Lasater, Barbara A. Wolfe, and Brenda Wright welcomed trustees, museum supporters, and art enthusiasts for what organizers described as an enchanted winter celebration.

A Private Viewing of Impressionist Masters

Before dinner, guests including JP Conte gathered for an exclusive preview of “Manet & Morisot,” the critically acclaimed exhibition running through March 1, 2026. Emily Beeny, Chief Curator of the Legion of Honor and the Barbara A. Wolfe Curator-in-Charge of European Paintings, led the viewing. The exhibition marks the first major show dedicated to the artistic relationship between French Impressionists Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot.

Serving as the penultimate exhibition in the Legion of Honor 100 centennial celebrations, the show draws from major international collections including the Musée d’Orsay. The curator-led tour offered guests scholarly context for works that explore both the personal and professional connections between the two painters.

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The Business of Arts Philanthropy

JP Conte, managing partner of family office Lupine Crest Capital, joined fellow business leaders in supporting FAMSF’s educational programming. His attendance underscores a broader pattern of private wealth sustaining public cultural institutions. Through the JP Conte Family Foundation, established in 2017, he supports a range of causes spanning from education to the environment.

Conte’s philanthropic work includes the Conte First Generation Fund, which assists students at 11 major universities, and a $5 million gift to UCSF for Parkinson’s and neurodegenerative disease research. His presence at the gala illustrates how family offices increasingly direct philanthropy toward cultural institutions alongside traditional giving areas.

An Evening of Celebration

  1. Riccardo Benavides and IDEAS Events & Rentals transformed the Court of Honor into a burgundy-and-gold holiday setting. Guests savored caviar from The Caviar Co. and a multi-course dinner prepared by McCalls Catering & Events. After dining, The Bob Hardwick Sound Sensation, a big band ensemble flown in from New York City exclusively for the evening, provided entertainment spanning swing, Latin, and pop standards.

Proceeds from the gala support exhibitions and educational programming at both FAMSF museums. The organization’s mission centers on connecting visitors with local and global art through inclusive and accessible programs reaching Bay Area audiences and beyond.

Related: How JP Conte Stays Optimistic During Challenging Times