Hermitage Artist Retreat receives $238,000 in grants

The Hermitage Artist Retreat has been awarded nearly a dozen grants totaling more than $238,000. The awards will help support a variety of programs and initiatives, including residencies for Hermitage Fellows, arts education and program accessibility.

Among the organizations that each gave the Hermitage $50,000 grants or more are Sarasota County Commission's tourist development/arts program, the Welles Murphey Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Koski Family Foundation.

In addition, the Hermitage received a $15,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and $10,000 from The Exchange to promote “Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” and “Hermitage Sunsets @ Benderson Park.”

The Exchange also awarded the Hermitage a $5,000 Elizabeth Lindsay Arts in Education grant to support its work in bringing leading artists to Sarasota County public schools. 

“We are deeply appreciative for these generous grants from both new and longtime supporters, all of which will provide invaluable support and resources to the diverse and accomplished Hermitage artists who are making a meaningful impact in our community and with audiences around the world," said Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg in a statement.

A leading national arts incubator, the Hermitage hosts artists on its Manasota Key campus for multi-week residencies where they create and develop new works of theater, music, visual art, literature, dance, film and more. 

As part of their residencies, Hermitage Fellows participate in free year-round community programs, giving local audiences the opportunity to interact with world-class artists.