Tracey Emin, Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota and Serpentine Gallery director Julia Peyton-Jones were among a record 500-plus guests at the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel gala dinner, which raised £900,000.

Held at the Royal Horticultural Hall, its guest of honour was controversial American contemporary artist George Condo, who will be the subject of a major exhibition at the Hayward Gallery next autumn. He said he supported Israeli museums because "it is so important there is culture all over the world".

Also present were James Snyder, director of the Israel Museum, and his Tel Aviv Museum counterpart Professor Mordechai Omer, who reported on major building projects.

Mr Snyder said that in the 14 weeks since his museum's reopening, 360,000 people had visited. Professor Omer highlighted the success of an exhibition of work by London-based Israeli artist Zadok Ben David, another dinner guest.

Sixty donated artworks were auctioned by Christie's to raise funds for projects at the nine museums supported by the British Friends. A George Condo piece fetched £65,000 and the highest price was £110,000 for a Sterling Ruby work using industrial spray paint.

Ms Emin - who said it had been "a good night for art" - offered to donate one of her own prints to the highest bidder for a watercolour by her close friend, Louise Bourgeois, who died in May. The watercolour fetched £70,000.

The auction raised £653,000, adding to the dinner proceeds of £250,000.