The Hermitage Artist Retreat has secured more than $450,000 in grants from national, state and regional funders to bolster artist residencies, arts education and free community programming across Sarasota and Manatee counties, the organization announced Friday.
Funding mix backs residencies, education and public programs
The Manasota Key nonprofit said it received support from 11 organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts and the Florida Department of State’s Division of Arts and Culture. Major gifts will underwrite residencies for artists working in theater, music, literature, dance, film and visual art; expand educational initiatives; and fund free public offerings such as readings, performances and conversations held on the Hermitage’s beachfront campus.
The single largest award is a $150,000 state grant that will support residencies, educational activities and programming connected to two of the Hermitage’s signature honors: the Hermitage Greenfield Prize and the Hermitage Major Theater Award. Other significant grants include a $60,000 award from the National Endowment for the Arts and multiple six-figure and five-figure gifts from community foundations and private family foundations.
“As our programs and collaborations continue to evolve and expand, we are excited to see the impact on audiences throughout our region and beyond,” Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg said.
Regional partners and event support
Additional funding comes from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Koski Family Foundation and other regional donors. The Community Foundation’s grant will help underwrite the 2027 Hermitage Greenfield Prize Weekend, set for April 16–18, with the Greenfield Prize Dinner slated for April 18 at Michael’s On East in Sarasota.
- $150,000 — state grant for residencies, education and programming tied to Hermitage prizes
- $60,000 — National Endowment for the Arts support for the residency program
- $50,000 each — gifts from Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Koski Family Foundation
The Hermitage also cited additional contributions from The Exchange, the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, the Manatee Community Foundation and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music. Those funds will be used to expand programming, improve facilities and support music and multidisciplinary residencies, officials said.
| Funder | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Division of Arts and Culture | $150,000 | Residencies, education, Greenfield & theater award programming |
| National Endowment for the Arts | $60,000 | Residency program |
| Gulf Coast Community Foundation | $50,000 | Programming and operations |
| Community Foundation of Sarasota County | $50,000 | Support for Greenfield Prize Weekend |
| Koski Family Foundation | $50,000 | General support |
What residency funding means for education and access
The Hermitage hosts artists from around the world who develop new work during residencies and participate in free public events. The new grants will sustain those opportunities and underwrite expanded outreach and educational programs that bring artists into contact with regional audiences and students, the organization said. Officials framed the awards as a way to deepen the Hermitage’s regional footprint and to ensure that its public programs remain free and widely accessible.
By combining federal, state and philanthropic dollars, the Hermitage is able to support multidisciplinary fellowships while preserving free community offerings that often serve as informal education for local residents and visiting students. The announcement follows the nonprofit’s recent fundraising and event planning for its 2026–2027 benefit season.
More information about the Hermitage Artist Retreat, its residency calendar and public programs is available from the organization.
