Arts incubator receives $450,000 in grants

The Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key has been awarded a series of grants totaling more than $450,000 to support a variety of programs and initiatives. These include residencies for Hermitage Fellows, arts education support and program accessibility. 

Grants were awarded by the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Exchange, Florida Department of State’s Division of Arts and Culture, Frank E. Duckwall Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Koski Family Foundation, Manatee Community Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and the Sarasota County Tourist Development Cultural/Arts Program.

The Hermitage has earned global recognition for its artist residency program, which introduces local audiences to leading artists across all disciplines, according to a press release.

“As our programs and collaborations continue to evolve and expand, we are excited to see the impact on audiences throughout our region and beyond,” said Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg in the release. “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.”

As an incubator, The Hermitage is the only major arts organization in Florida’s Gulf Coast exclusively committed to supporting the development and creation of new work across all disciplines, according to the release. The Hermitage hosts artists across multiple disciplines for multi-week residencies, where they create and develop new works of theater, music, visual art, literature, dance, film and more. 

Hermitage Fellows participate in free year-round community programs as part of their residencies, offering audiences a rare opportunity to engage with the artists and get an authentic preview into their projects before their works move on to venues across the country and around the world. The free programs include performances, conversations, readings, music concerts, interactive experiences, open studios, school programs and teacher workshops.