SARASOTA COUNTY, Florida — November 17, 2025 — The Hermitage Artist Retreat announced that it has received more than $300,000 in national and regional grants to support residencies for Hermitage Fellows, arts education initiatives, and expanded program accessibility. Funding was awarded by the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Amphion Foundation, Bishop Parker Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Exchange, Frank E. Duckwall Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Koski Family Foundation, McNally Foundation, Poetry Foundation, Southface Sarasota’s GoodUse Grant, and the Tourist Development Cultural/Arts Program.
The Welles Murphey Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation renewed its support for the organization with a $50,000 Empowering Arts Grant. The Hermitage joined the foundation’s arts support program in 2021, which was recently renamed Empowering Arts. The grant helps fund core operations and special initiatives, continuing a multi-year partnership that has included hurricane relief and additional project support.
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County awarded a $50,000 grant for the Hermitage to again serve as Lead Community Sponsor of the Hermitage Greenfield Prize Weekend. The upcoming celebration, presented with the Greenfield Foundation, will be held April 10 through April 13, 2026. The Hermitage Greenfield Prize Dinner is scheduled for April 12 at 6 p.m. at Michael’s On East.
Sarasota County approved $64,036 in Tourist Development Cultural/Arts Program funding to support Hermitage artist residencies and public programming aimed at strengthening cultural tourism. Hermitage Fellows, alumni, and curators provide free community events on the campus and through partnerships with arts, cultural, and educational institutions countywide.
The Koski Family Foundation renewed a $50,000 grant supporting the Hermitage’s arts education programs and its Sarasota Cross Arts Collaborative. The initiative helps teaching artists expand their craft and provides local schools with high-quality creative instruction. Artists selected for the Cross Arts Collaborative will present a public program on December 3 at Nathan Benderson Park as part of the Hermitage Sunsets at Benderson Park series.
The Terrence McNally Foundation renewed its support for the McNally Fellowship, which provides a residency for an early career playwright. The Exchange awarded an Elizabeth Lindsay Arts in Education grant for school programming, and the Poetry Foundation supported general programming and recovery efforts earlier this year. The Bishop Parker Foundation contributed funding that acknowledges the Hermitage’s impact in Manatee County. Grants from the Amphion Foundation and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music support music-related initiatives. Southface Sarasota’s GoodUse Grant will fund energy efficiency improvements, and the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation awarded a grant for rebuilding accessibility equipment damaged during hurricanes.
The Hermitage is recognized internationally for its artist residency program and growing public programming. “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. “We are deeply appreciative for these generous grants from both new and longtime supporters, all of which provide vital resources to the accomplished Hermitage artists who are making a meaningful impact in our community and with audiences around the world.”
The Hermitage hosts artists on its Manasota Key campus for multi-week residencies, providing space and support for new work across theater, music, visual art, literature, dance, film, and more. Fellows also participate in free public programs, offering audiences rare access to works in development before they reach major stages, galleries, and museums.
More information is available at HermitageArtistRetreat.org.
