Good things come to those who wait, as was the case with the Museums by Moonlight Gala on September 14, which benefited both the Cantor Arts Center and the Anderson Collection at Stanford University. The highly anticipated black-tie evening takes place every two years.

This year’s soiree, coinciding with the Anderson Collection’s 10th anniversary, welcomed 400 supporters who enjoyed exclusive gallery access throughout the evening, including a special preview of Spirit House, a major new exhibition presented as part of the Cantor’s Asian American Art Initiative. Guests began the evening with cocktails under the stars on the museums’ North Lawn, then proceeded to the Rodin Sculpture Garden for a McCalls catered dinner, followed by dancing to Vybe Society.

The gala also honored San Francisco’s pioneering multimedia artist Lynn Hershman Leeson and the exceptional commitment of honorary chairs Pamela Hornik and David Hornik. Guests included Ethan Beard, Mia Conway, Dale Djerassi, Komal Shah and Gaurav Garg, and event chair Sara Abbasi.

“The Cantor and Anderson are the only collecting museums in the Bay Area that are always free to everyone,” said Veronica Roberts, John and Jill Freidenrich Director of the Cantor Arts Center. “Both Stanford and our free admission policy afford this intellectual freedom. It allows us to take risks and engage with important, complex ideas.”

The $1.2 million raised from Museums by Moonlight ensures this free admission year-round and supports school programs for K-12 students, docent tours and other initiatives — extending the museum experience to more than 150,000 visitors annually.