Watermill Center Summer Benefit Proceeds Without Founder Robert Wilson

The Watermill Center, Robert Wilson's experimental art incubator in Water Mill, New York, will hold its annual summer benefit on July 25, 2026, without the presence of its founder for the first time. Wilson, who is 84 and in declining health, will not attend. The event, a major fundraiser for the center, will feature performances by artists including Marina Abramović, who has been a longtime collaborator. Wilson's absence raises questions about the institution's future after his death, as he has not designated a successor. The center's board has been preparing for this transition, but Wilson's singular vision has defined the place for decades. The benefit is expected to raise over $1 million.