The annual Parsons School of Design Benefit is set to take place Wednesday, May 24, at Cipriani Wall Street. In prior years, the event has stirred controversy due to its high-profile guest list and costly ticket prices.

According to The New School’s announcement, “the Parsons Benefit is an annual celebration of the inspirational and transformational role that fashion, design, and the arts play in today’s world.” This year, the event will honor Chief Executive Officer of the Neiman Marcus Group Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Supermodel and Cultural Innovator Naomi Campbell, and Creative Director of Balmain Olivier Rousteing. In addition to recognizing high-profile individuals who have impacted the design industry, the event highlights the work of New School students and raises “critical scholarship funds” for current and incoming attendees.

The Parsons Benefit ticket prices are as follows, according to TNS’s website:

• $2,500 Individual Ticket: Patron (prime dinner and fashion show seating for one)
• $5,000 Individual Ticket: Benefactor (premium dinner and fashion show seating for one)
• $25,000 Leadership Level: Patron Table (prime dinner and fashion show seating for ten)
• $50,000 Leadership Level: Benefactor Table (premium dinner and fashion show seating for ten)
• $100,000 Leadership Level: Scholar Table (priority dinner and fashion show seating for ten) 

Over the decades the event has honored a number of luxury-brand designers such as Parsons alum Marc Jacobs, who was introduced to the 2015 stage by Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. High-profile celebrities are also often recognized, like rapper Travis Scott, who was accompanied by socialite Kylie Jenner at the 2021 event. Other notable honorees include singer Rihanna and designers Tory Burch and Vera Wang. Amongst several other publications, the Parsons Benefit has been covered by The New York Times as well as Vogue in recent years.

In 2022, the event was hosted at the Glasshouse, a “preeminent private event space,” and at  The Rooftop at Pier 17 the year prior. Cipriani Wall Street, a New York landmark and this year’s location,  is regarded as “a grand and luxurious venue for events” according to its website. Pricing ranges from $275 to $300 per person to attend a Cipriani-hosted event. 

Past years have raised controversy among the student body, specifically in 2021. A series of comments were left by students on a New School Instagram post where the caption claimed that over $3 million had been raised towards scholarships. User @lordmuv commented, “Letting multimillionaires speak on behalf of Parsons when students are being f—ed over! Nice!” Similar sentiments were echoed by @mohthechosen, “Glad to see all my fellow students and past students in agreement…I thought I was the only one who felt like I’m being scammed.”

Similar confusion and frustration have been expressed under Parsons’ Instagram announcement of the 2023 Benefit. “How do I, a Parsons student, attend the Parsons Benefit?” asked @dajiavuuu. User @ilserocha replied, “They don’t invite students…that’s the funny part.”