Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, the directors of the Israel and Tel Aviv museums and leading artists were among the 300 people at the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel gala dinner in central London.

The evening included an auction of more than 60 works, with a sculpture by Jerusalem-born, London-based artist Daniel Silver fetching the highest price of £35,000.

Mr Silver said he was keen to support the Friends as "when I was 15, I got a grant from the Israel Museum to study with an artist.

"It was the first time I studied art properly and I want other young people to have that opportunity."

Artist and teacher Michael Craig-Martin was guest of honour. Mr Craig-Martin, whose exhibition opened at the Serpentine Gallery last week, was interviewed by Andrew Renton, director of the Marlborough Contemporary Gallery, who described him as "possibly the most influential person in the British art world, full stop".

The artist told the audience that "through my whole career, here, in the US [and] in every place I go, Jewish people engage with contemporary art. There is something very special about you."

In total, £400,000 was raised towards funding the educational and exhibition programmes of the Israeli museums.