Works by John Currin, Ellsworth Kelly, and Terry Winters, among others, are being given to the Tate by a group of major American collectors, the Tate’s director, Nicholas Serota, announced last night at a gala dinner organized by the American Patrons of Tate.

A collector based in San Francisco and New York, Frances Bowes, will give the British institution Mr. Currin’s “The Cuddler” (2000); the television producer Douglas Cramer will give Mr. Kelly’s “Red White” (1966); and the New York collectors Donald and Catie Marron will give Mr. Winter’s “Scale” (2003). The other gifts Mr. Serota announced last night were Richard Tuttle’s “8th Paper Octagonal” (1970), given by Angela Westwater and David Meitus; Susan Rothenberg’s “United States” (1975), given by Judge Mariana Pfaelzer; and Ellen Gallagher’s “Bird in Hand” (1966), given by an anonymous collector.

The gala, held at the Riverfront Pavilion Midtown, also raised $1.5 million toward the acquisition of works by North and South American artists. Guests included Mr. Currin and his wife, the painter Rachel Feinstein, Chuck Close, Robert Rauschenberg, Brice Marden, Jeff Wall, Agnes Gund, Steve Martin, Diane von Furstenberg, David Byrne, and Chelsea Clinton.

During cocktails, as dusk descended on the Hudson River, Mr. Serota expressed gratitude for the gifts, which he said “add strength and depth to the collection” of the Tate, a network of four British galleries. While all of the artists are already represented in the collection, these gifts fill important gaps, Mr. Serota said. “The Kelly is now hanging at the Tate, and it’s sensational,” he said. “The Susan Rothenberg is one of her great paintings. Any museum in the world would die to have it.”

The American Patrons of Tate has become quite savvy about attracting donations: The guests last night had a group photograph taken by Annie Leibovitz. They also received an invitation to have cocktails with Prime Minister Blair and his wife, Cherie, in June.

The American Patrons have received significantly more support in recent years. In fiscal year 2005, they raised more than $1 million, up from $237,270 in fiscal year 2000. But their success has also attracted criticism. At a panel in February sponsored by the Art Dealers Association of America, the director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Lisa Dennison, said she saw the rise of “American Friends” groups as a threat to New York City museums.

Apparently, not all New York museum directors feel the same way: The director of the Whitney Museum of American Art, Adam Weinberg, was in attendance last night, supporting the American artists and cultivating trans-Atlantic ties.