Which museum department receives funds raised by the annual Met Gala?

Funds raised by the annual Met Gala support the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

The gala is formally the Costume Institute Benefit, and its proceeds help fund the department’s exhibitions, acquisitions, conservation, research, and programming. The event is held as the opening celebration for the institute’s major annual exhibition.

The Costume Institute is the Met department devoted to dress and fashion history. Its collection contains clothing and accessories representing centuries of design, craftsmanship, and social history.

The gala is often described simply as a celebrity red-carpet event, but its institutional purpose is fundraising. Ticket sales, table purchases, and related support help sustain the Costume Institute’s work.