Category: Hermitage in the News

Composer Jaylin Vinson Wins 2026 Hermitage Prize in Composition

The Hermitage Artist Retreat and the Aspen Music Festival and School (Aspen, Colorado) are pleased to announce Jaylin Vinson, a composition student at AMFS, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Hermitage Prize in Composition. Vinson is the thirteenth recipient of this annual award, which includes a residency at the Hermitage. This year, the Hermitage is pleased to announce a new $10,000 valuation for the prize, which includes a $5,000 commission paid directly to the winner, in addition to supporting expenses related to the winner’s Fellowship and public program at the Hermitage. With this commission, Vinson will create an original composition that will be developed at the Hermitage prior to having its full premiere in Aspen in 2027 with the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble (ACE). This commission is made possible with generous support from Marsha & David Dowler, Rebecca Donelson & Robert Blattberg, and Friends of the Hermitage in Aspen.

Vinson was selected by a jury that includes multiple Grammy Award winner Robert Spano, Music Director of the AMFS, Artistic Director Laureate of the Atlanta Symphony, and a past member of the Hermitage Curatorial Council; award-winning composer and arts administrator Alan Fletcher, AMFS President and CEO; and the composition faculty of the AMFS, including Grammy Award-winning Hermitage Fellow Christopher Theofanidis.

Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg presented the award to Vinson on Saturday at the Aspen Music Festival’s Klein Tent, alongside Fletcher and Theofanidis. The commission was announced the following day at an annual reception hosted by Marsha and David Dowler in celebration of the Hermitage Prize and the AMFS composition students. 

The Hermitage Prize in Composition, launched in 2013, reflects an invaluable partnership between AMFS and the Hermitage, designed to champion new and original works and to recognize exceptional talent in the field of contemporary classical music. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of this award in 2023, the Hermitage and AMFS produced a retrospective video featuring exclusive interviews with past winners, distinguished AMFS faculty members, and renowned thought leaders in music, which can be seen here (full URL link below). With established composers like Spano, Fletcher, Theofanidis, Nico Muhly, and more having experienced memorable Hermitage Fellowships, the Hermitage Prize in Composition was created to offer the same experience to young, talented composers just beginning their professional careers.

“We are thrilled to recognize Jaylin Vinson as the winner of the thirteenth annual Hermitage Prize and the inaugural recipient of this new commission,” noted Sandberg. “Jaylin is a brilliant young composer whose work has been heard across the United States, and we know he will a welcome addition to the Hermitage community. We were delighted that the weekend’s festivities could be celebrated alongside fellow Hermitage alumni. We must also thank Marsha and David Dowler, Rebecca Donelson and Bob Blattberg, and our generous supporters in Aspen for making this new commission possible, and we are grateful for our continuing collaboration with the Aspen Music Festival and School.”

The Hermitage Prize at AMFS is the only student residency awarded each year; all other Hermitage Fellows are accomplished working professionals and leaders in their fields, selected by the Hermitage’s National Curatorial Council. This provides the recipient of the annual Hermitage Prize in Composition the opportunity to share this unmatched Hermitage experience with leading artists from all around the world. 

This year’s season of the world-renowned Aspen Music Festival featured works and performances from Hermitage alumni including AMFS Music Director Robert Spano, AMFS President Alan Fletcher, Christopher Theofanidis, Lera Auerbach, Nico Muhly, Jessie Montgomery, Gity Razaz, David Lang, and 2017 Hermitage Prize in Composition winner Joel Thompson. 

Hermitage Fellows have included 20 Pulitzer Prize winners, multiple Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, and Tony winners, Poets Laureate, MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellows, and more. Hermitage Fellows regularly describe their time at the Hermitage as “magical,” “transformative,” and “life-changing.”

2026 Hermitage Prize in Composition winner Jaylin Vinson is a concert-music composer whosemusic has been described as “an awakening” by the Sioux City Journal, marked by “insatiable curiosity” from the Heifetz Institute, and recognized as “bold and compelling” by DC Theater Arts. His compositions have been showcased at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, with works performed by ensembles across the United States including the New York Youth Symphony, Houston Youth Symphonies, the Oklahoma Youth Orchestras, Baylor Symphony Orchestra, University of Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra, the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, the National Orchestra Institute, Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Navy Band, the Apollo Chamber Players, and KINETIC Ensemble. Vinson’s one-act opera, Future of Dreams, was commissioned by Washington National Opera and premiered at the Kennedy Center in January 2025. A Finalist for the San Francisco Symphony’s Black Emerging Composer Project, Vinson’s honors prior to the Hermitage Prize include being named Composer of the Year by the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, winning the inaugural Altus Adams Prize by the U.S. Navy Band, and receiving an Honorable Mention in the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award. Vinson holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. He is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Composition at the Juilliard School, as a proud recipient of the Kovner Fellowship.

“Words cannot adequately express how thrilled and humbled I am to receive the Hermitage Prize in Composition,” said Vinson. “As a composer, I work within a fundamentally time-based art form, so receiving the gift of time at the Hermitage Artist Retreat is not one I take for granted. To know the history of this wonderful landscape on Manasota Key is to know the brilliant creatives who have also been blessed with uninterrupted time at the Hermitage – time that has led to an extraordinary body of new work and fruitful collaboration. I am beaming with anticipation, thinking of the new work and the relationships that will grow out of my own time there. I extend my utmost gratitude to the selection committee for this investment in my creative life, and for the privilege this time will mean to my career. I look forward to what I will create: my gift of gratitude for the gift that has been extended to me.”

Following the award presentation on the stage of the Klein Tent, Vinson was recognized at a reception hosted by Marsha and David Dowler in celebration of the Hermitage Prize, where he was surprised by the news of the commission. At this event, Vinson’s original work “Carpe Diem” was debuted by the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble (ACE). Vinson’s new commission will also receive its premiere in collaboration with ACE next summer, to coincide with the awarding of the 2027 Hermitage Prize winner.

Previous residencies of AMFS Hermitage Prize recipients have led to exciting collaborations, lifelong friendships, and extraordinary new compositions. The first winner of this award in 2013 was Patrick Harlin. While in residence at the Hermitage, Harlin met acclaimed designer and visual artist Anne Patterson. The two sparked a decade-long collaboration that led to the world premiere exhibition, “The Truth of the Night Sky,” at the Sarasota Art Museum in the fall of 2024. Harlin and Patterson also spent time at the Hermitage with AMFS composer Christopher Theofanidis and celebrated poet Melissa Studdard; as a result, these four Hermitage alumni began a multi-year collaboration which led to the 2025 world premiere of Siddhartha, She at the Aspen Music Festival. Adapted from Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha, this original opera developed at the Hermitage featured music by Christopher Theofanidis, a libretto by Melissa Studdard, design and direction by Anne Patterson, soundscape design by Patrick Harlin, and music direction by Robert Spano– all five Hermitage alumni. This newly created work received critical acclaim at the 2025 Aspen Music Festival. 

“This opportunity at the Hermitage has made such a big difference to me,” said 2025 Hermitage Prize in Composition winner Harriet Steinke. The first thing I noticed was how amazing it has been for my creative brain to have space and time. People, including myself, underestimate how much you need that to be creative. It takes time to get your brain and your body in the right space, and as you move through your life, it’s impossible to find that sort of time. This experience has helped me find that peace and quiet, this extraordinarily valuable thing that artists really need to continue to produce throughout their lives. While I’m at the Hermitage, I’m working on an opera for Beth Morrison Projects, setting the text of the Victorian poet Christina Rossetti.”

“I cannot adequately describe how grateful I felt to be at the Hermitage Artist Retreat,” said the 2024 Hermitage Prize winner Hannah Rice of her resulting residency. “Life is so fast paced for young artists, so to be awarded the time to wake up, watch the sunrise, and ground myself was truly a gift. I was so unbelievably inspired by the ocean, the sounds of the birds squawking, and the beauty of mother earth, and I feel so thankful for this invaluable time to get back to child-like play in my music studio. I also had the opportunity to connect with some incredible, seasoned artists while in residence, and I have learned so much from their insights and experiences. As I approached the end of my time on Manasota Key, I soaked in everything that this gorgeous place and these wonderful people had to offer and splattered as many sounds against the canvas as I could. It was truly a privilege to be at the Hermitage –I kept reminding myself – I’m not in a dream!”

Previous Hermitage Prize recipients include Patrick Harlin (2013), Thomas Kotcheff (2014), Phillip Sink (2015), Andrew Hsu (2016), Joel Thompson (2017), Sid Richardson (2018), Chelsea Komschlies(2019), David Clay Mettens (2021), Sofía Rocha (2022), Matīss Čudars (2023), Hannah Rice (2024), and Harriet Steinke (2025).

Hermitage Announces New Members of National Curatorial Council

The Hermitage Artist Retreat recently announced its 2026-2027 Curatorial Council, comprised of distinguished national arts leaders spanning the fields of theater, music, visual art, literature, and arts education. The newest additions to the Council include Mark Ronson, Academy Award and nine-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer; Will Butler, Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated composer; Bill Rauch, Tony Award-winning Artistic Director of the Perelman Performing Arts Center; Ian Alteveer, Beal Family Chair of Contemporary Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and Justin Torres, a National Book Award-winning author and Hermitage alumnus. 

The full National Curatorial Council for the Hermitage’s 2026-2027 season, comprised of fifteen accomplished and diverse nominating members from across the United States, includes: 

  • Ian Alteveer* (Visual Art), Chair of Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
  • Courtney J. Boddie (Arts Education), VP, Education & School Engagement, New Victory/New 42
  • Will Butler* (Music), Grammy Award-Winning & Academy Award-Nominated Composer
  • Kimberli Gant (Visual Art), Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art, Brooklyn Museum
  • Lauren Groff (Literature), New York Times Bestselling Author & Time “100 Most Influential People” 
  • Cathy Park Hong (Literature), Pulitzer Prize Finalist & Time “100 Most Influential People” 
  • Rajiv Joseph (Theater), Obie Award-Winning Playwright & Screenwriter
  • Christine Kuan (Visual Art), President & Executive Director, Creative Capital
  • Tina LaPadula (Arts Education), Founder of Arts Corps & Arts Ed Manager, City of Seattle
  • Lynn Nottage (Theater), Two-Time Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright
  • Shara Nova (Music), Grammy Award-Nominated Recording Artist & Performer
  • Bill Rauch* (Theater), Tony Award-Winning Artistic Director of Perelman Performing Arts Center
  • Mark Ronson* (Music), Academy Award & Grammy Award-Winning Songwriter & Producer
  • Justin Torres* (Literature), National Book Award-Winning Author
  • Du Yun (Music), Pulitzer Prize-Winning & Grammy Award-Nominated Composer

*New to the Council as of 2026

 “We are honored to welcome these visionary and forward-thinking arts leaders to the Hermitage Curatorial Council,” says Andy Sandberg, Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO. “Ian Alteveer, Will Butler, Bill Rauch, Mark Ronson, and Justin Torres are innovative creative minds with a finger on the pulse, each highly regarded for their unique contributions to their respective fields. The members of this esteemed Curatorial Council share a collective passion for the development and creation of new work from bold and diverse voices, and we are incredibly fortunate to have these luminaries of the arts in the Hermitage family. With their breadth of experience, their vast networks, and their insightful ability to identify extraordinary talent, the selection of this next wave of Hermitage Fellows is in exceptionally capable hands.”

Mark Ronson is a globally celebrated DJ and a nine-time Grammy Award, Academy Award, and Golden Globe Award-winning producer and songwriter. He began his career DJ-ing in 1990s New York before rising to fame with standout collaborations, including Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, which earned him multiple Grammys including Producer of the Year, and the global smash “Uptown Funk” with Bruno Mars. He co-wrote the Oscar, Golden Globe, and Grammy-winning hit “Shallow” for A Star Is Bornand has worked with artists like Lady Gaga, Adele, Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, and Dua Lipa. In 2023, he served as executive producer and composer for Barbie: The Album and its score, earning another Grammy, and in early 2025, executive produced SNL50: The Homecoming Concert with Lorne Michaels. His memoir, Night People: How to Be a DJ in ’90s New York City, was released in September of 2025 and earned him a spot on The New York Times Bestsellers list, and the Sunday Times “Top 10 Bestsellers” list. The memoir was quickly snapped up by Brad Pitt’s Plan B and Warner Brothers Studios for a film adaptation. Most recently, Mark received the 2026 Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music and highlighted the show with a seven-minute live performance featuring Ghostface Killah and Dua Lipa.

Will Butler is an award-winning musician and composer. As a member of the band Arcade Fire until 2022, he released era-defining records such as Funeral and The Suburbs, which won the 2011 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Along with Owen Pallett, he was nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Score for the Spike Jonze film Her. He has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Emma Stone, Terry Gilliam, Greta Gerwig, choreographer Ryan Heffington and comedians Jo Firestone and Patti Harrison. He is currently a recording artist for Merge Records. Stereophonic was his Broadway debut, earning 13 Tony Award nominations, including Best Score and Best Orchestrations.

Bill Rauch is the inaugural Artistic Director of the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC), at the World Trade Center. His work as a theater director has been seen across the nation, from community centers to Broadway in the Tony Award-winning production of All The Way, its sequel The Great Society, and most recently co-directing Cats: The Jellicle Ball, for which he won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical. From 2007 to 2019, Bill was Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the country’s oldest and largest rotating repertory theater. Bill co-founded Cornerstone Theater Company where he served as artistic director from 1986 to 2006, directing collaborations with diverse, rural, and urban communities nationwide. 

Ian Alteveer , a 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize juror, joined the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 2023 as the Beal Family Chair of Contemporary Art, where he leads the department focused on art made after 1955 and where his project Martin Puryear: Nexus, a 50-year survey of the American sculptor, is currently on view. Prior to his current role, Alteveer was the inaugural Aaron I. Fleischman Curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where he curated the survey Cecily Brown: Death and the Maid, as well as retrospectives for Kerry James Marshall, Marisa Merz, David Hockney, and Vija Celmins. Alteveer is a graduate of Stanford University and New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts. 

Justin Torres is a Hermitage alumnus and the author of Blackouts, which won the National Book Award for Fiction and the California Book Award, and was a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Lambda Literary Award, the Inside Literary Prize, and the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. A 2025 Berlin Prize Fellow at the American Academy, he’s also received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center. His first novel We the Animals was a national bestseller and adapted into a feature film. He lives in Los Angeles and is a professor of English at UCLA.

Members of the Hermitage Curatorial Council are experts in their disciplines and connected to some of the world’s most renowned artists and cultural institutions. Each year, the Council selects artists of extraordinary ability who are already making an impact in their field – artists, writers, performers, and educators who are eager to continue developing bold and impactful new works, and who may benefit creatively from a distinguished Hermitage Fellowship. *Since national and international Hermitage Fellowships are curated, there is no application for a Hermitage residency; neither the Hermitage staff nor members of the Curatorial Council can accept applications or solicitations. However, Sarasota County artists and arts teachers in Florida schools can find information on how to apply to select programs (John Ringling Towers Fellowships and Hermitage STARs) through the Hermitage website.

Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens 2026-27 Dates

The Hermitage Artist Retreat’s popular series, “Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens,” continues into its seventh year as part of the Hermitage’s upcoming 2026-2027 season. The outdoor series — a celebrated collaboration between the Hermitage Artist Retreat and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens — features performances and explorations of works-in-progress by Hermitage artists-in-residence and alumni. “Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” events are currently scheduled to take place at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus and the Historic Spanish Point campus in Osprey. 

Newly announced dates for this seventh season of “Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” include:

  • Friday, October 16, 2026, Downtown Sarasota campus
  • Friday, November 20, 2026, Historic Spanish Point campus
  • Thursday February 11, 2027, Historic Spanish Point campus
  • Thursday February 25, 2027, Downtown Sarasota campus
  • Thursday, March 18, 2027, Downtown Sarasota campus
  • Thursday, May 6, 2027, Downtown Sarasota campus

The first of these events, “New Music Under the Old Oak,” features Hermitage Fellows Madeline Benson & Chris Peters who collaborated as arrangers, orchestrators, and performers for late Hermitage Fellow Gavin Creel’s original musical Walk on Through, which was developed in part at the Hermitage. They have since partnered on other ventures, including Benson’s debut album, Leave it All to Me, produced by Peters, and a concert at Lincoln Center featuring their individual and collaborative work. Matīss Čudars, winner of the Hermitage Prize in Composition at the Aspen Music Festival & School, is a Latvian composer and guitar player who draws upon a diverse musical upbringing encompassing math-rock, jazz, classical music, and avant-garde improv. Last seen at the 2025 Hermitage Artful Lobster, he composes for orchestras, chamber ensembles, and solo performance. These talented Hermitage musicians will share their original work and their creative process as the sun sets into the Bay at Selby Gardens’ downtown Sarasota campus on Friday, October 16 at 5:30pm.

Start times for the additional program dates will vary with sunset and will be announced when each event opens for registration. Admission for these events has no ticket cost, though availability is subject to capacity limitations at each venue; advance registration is required ($5/person) at HermitageArtistRetreat.org.   

Each program will feature a celebrated Hermitage artist (or artists) to be announced. Last year’s “Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” spotlighted the works and talents of acclaimed violist and founder of the quartet ETHEL Ralph Farris, Broadway performer and writer Lauren Marcus, Hermitage Roundabout Fellow and playwright Migdalia Cruz, Tony Award winner Britton Smith, acclaimed jazz musician Adam O’Farrill, Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Doug Wright, Obie Award winner Morgan Bassichis, celebrated Broadway and television actor and playwright Adam Chanler-Berat, award-winning singer-songwriter and composer Julian Hornik, and Juilliard-trained flutist Emi Ferguson. 

“This seventh season of ‘Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens’ promises to be another memorable one,” says Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg. “The forthcoming lineup will once again introduce audiences to some of the most dynamic artists and performers of our generation – six magical evenings set against the backdrop of these beautiful bayfront sanctuaries. This popular series has been a joyous collaboration with our friends at Selby Gardens, and we look forward welcoming new and returning audiences to experience a ‘sneak peek’ into the creative process of our leading artists, writers, and performers. 

“We are so excited to celebrate seven years of this wonderful collaboration with the Hermitage Artist Retreat,” says Selby Gardens President & CEO Jennifer Rominiecki. “Welcoming world-class Hermitage artists to our expanded bayfront sanctuary at our Downtown Sarasota and vibrant Historic Spanish Point campuses is something we look forward to each year. Treating Gulf Coast patrons to these special programs has been such a joy, and we are thrilled that the ‘Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens’ series continues to flourish.” 

These outdoor events are one part of many ongoing programs and collaborations planned throughout the season, spanning Sarasota County, Charlotte County, Manatee County, Lee County, and the surrounding region. The programs feature industry-leading playwrights, visual artists, musicians, poets, choreographers, and more — all free to the members of our community with a $5/person registration fee. 

Hermitage Hosts West Coast Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

Over two decades of Hermitage Fellows came together in Los Angeles on Monday, August 3rd to celebrate the legacy of the Hermitage and connect with Hermitage Fellows across all artistic disciplines. Following the success of previous New York reunions, Hermitage alumni gathered in California to commemorate the impact of this leading national and international arts organization, located on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

“Yes, the Hermitage is a beautiful and inspiring place to create, but the more than 900+ extraordinary Hermitage Fellows are the true heart of the organization. These incredible artists and their experiences at the Hermitage are collectively changing the face of the artistic landscape,” said Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg. “They are all part of a remarkable tradition that has fostered generative artists, writers, creators, performers, and innovators, many of whom have earned national and international recognition.”

The evening brought together multiple generations of Hermitage alumni – and new Hermitage Fellows – to connect and reconnect as they shared stories of what they accomplished while in residence on Manasota Key, how the Hermitage has impacted their work and careers, and what the organization means to them as both artists and individuals. Sandberg thanked everyone for coming and encouraged all in attendance to take a moment to recognize the collective talent in the room, and to take pride in the shared legacy of what it means to be a Hermitage Fellow. 

The Hermitage, through its expanding commitment to alumni engagement, endeavors to build upon what many of the artists in residence share as one of the most meaningful experiences of their careers. In addition to serving as a leading national arts incubator, the Hermitage annually presents two distinguished commissions: the Hermitage Greenfield Prize and also the Hermitage Major Theater Award, which presents workshops and readings in major arts capitals such as New York, London, and Chicago. Hermitage Greenfield Prize winners Aleshea Harris and Sandy Rodriguez were among the distinguished artists in attendance.

Hermitage Receives Over $450,000 in National and Regional Grants 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Sarasota County, Florida) announced today that the nonprofit organization has been awarded a series of grants totaling over $450,000 that will support a variety of programs and initiatives, including 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 is a multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to championing bold and impactful new work, supporting the creative process, elevating the artist experience, and enriching the lives of audiences and arts appreciators around the world. A leading national incubator for diverse and original works across all artistic mediums, the Hermitage aims to inspire creative minds to achieve their greatest potential. In addition, the Hermitage is the only major arts organization in Florida exclusively committed to the development and creation of new work across all artistic disciplines.

The Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture is supporting the mission of the Hermitage with a $150,000 grant award. These funds will go toward supporting artist residencies, free community programs, arts education programs, and additional programming surrounding Hermitage commissions like the Hermitage Greenfield Prize and the Hermitage Major Theater Award. 

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has renewed its support for the Hermitage with a $60,000 grant award. These funds are intended to support the Hermitage’s nationally renowned artist residency program.

The Welles Murphey Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF) renewed its support for the Hermitage with a $50,000 Empowering Arts Grant in support of the organization’s mission: to inspire and foster the most influential and culturally consequential art and artists of our time. The Hermitage became one of Gulf Coast’s “Arts Appreciation” grantees in 2021, and that program was subsequently rebranded as “Empowering Arts,” supporting leading arts and cultural institutions in the region. GCCF has additionally supported the Hermitage through other special programs and hurricane relief efforts in recent years.

The Hermitage was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County (CFSC) to once again serve as the Lead Community Sponsor for the Hermitage Greenfield Prize Weekend. This will be the tenth year of CFSC’s support of this annual celebration, which the Hermitage presents each year in partnership with the Greenfield Foundation. This coming year’s events are scheduled for April 16-18, 2027, with additional details to be announced. The popular Hermitage Greenfield Prize Dinner will be held on Sunday, April 18th starting at 6pm at Michael’s On East. 

For the upcoming season, Sarasota County approved the Tourist Development Cultural/Arts Program(TDC/A) funding, resulting in a grant award just over $60,000 for the Hermitage to facilitate artist residencies and programming that supports tourism in Sarasota County. Hermitage Fellows, alumni, and curators are some of the leading artists and thinkers in their respective fields from all over the world. These world-renowned creators share their artistic talents and insight into their creative process through free community programs held on the Hermitage campus, as well as at partner arts, cultural, and educational institutions throughout the region. These impactful and educational programs offer a wide variety of free events to tourists and residents alike, all throughout Sarasota County.

The Koski Family Foundation renewed their support of the Hermitage with a $50,000 grant to support the Hermitage’s commitment to arts education, in addition to their continuing support of the Hermitage’s Sarasota Cross Arts Collaborative initiative. This generous grant allows the Hermitage to foster the development and growth of teaching artists while providing local schools the benefit of these extraordinary artists’ insight and instruction. The Cross Arts Collaborative was designed to give performing and generative artists who call local arts institutions their creative home a chance to expand their artistic practice from ‘performer’ to ‘creator.’ Recipients receive two weeks of uninterrupted time at the Hermitage Artist Retreat to develop a new project and present a free public program for the greater Sarasota community. The Cross Arts Collaborative recipients from 2026 will share a public program of their work-in-process as part of the Hermitage’s 2026-2027 season. 

Additional community program support comes from The Exchange, which awarded a grant to support the Hermitage’s north Sarasota County programming initiatives, introducing patrons in Sarasota to some of the world’s leading artists, while the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation’s grant supports the Hermitage with a focus on the enhancement and refurbishment of the Hermitage Englewood Art Center. A grant from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation will support the world-renowned Hermitage Residency program. The Manatee Community Foundationis providing support in recognition of the Hermitage’s programming and impact in Manatee County, while a grant from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music will provide support for the organization’s ongoing commitment to music residencies and initiatives.

The Hermitage is nationally and globally recognized for its acclaimed artist residency program and its rapidly expanding community programming, introducing Gulf Coast audiences to some of the world’s leading artists across all disciplines. “As our programs and collaborations continue to evolve and expand, we are excited to see the impact on audiences throughout our region and beyond,” says Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg. “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.” 

Sixteenth Season of Hermitage STARs Announced 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Sarasota County, Florida) announced today the distinguished Florida public school arts teachers who will spend part of their summer on Manasota Key while working on their own artistic endeavors. They are the recipients of the 2026 State Teachers Artist Residency program (STARs) – now in its sixteenth year – presented by the Hermitage Artist Retreat in partnership with the Florida Alliance for Arts Education (FAAE). This year’s recipients were selected from dozens of impressive applicants, and the teachers selected from across the State of Florida include two visual artists, an author, and a poet.  These artists and educators receive a residency at the nationally renowned Hermitage Artist Retreat, where they can focus on their own work as creative artists. These teaching artists will present a family-friendly showcase of their work on Friday, July 10th starting at 10:30am. This special event will be held at SKY Academy (operated by the YMCA of Southwest Florida), by invitation only for the students in the community. 

“These exceptional educators are also talented artists and creative minds in their own right,” says Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO of the Hermitage. “During the academic year, their attention is devoted to their students. The STARs program offers these distinguished teachers the opportunity to experience what leading artists from around the world have come to the Hermitage for – to focus on their craft and their creative process. Over the years, the STARs from counties across Florida have created some stunning works of art, music, theater, dance, and literature during their time at the Hermitage. Many Hermitage teaching artist alumni have shared that this program enables them to return to their students with a new fire and passion for arts education.” 

The recipients of this year’s honor, selected among dozens of impressive applicants, include:Génesis Allione (Palm Beach County), a Florida-based visual and teaching artist whose work is rooted in community engagement, public art, and creative exploration; Caridad Moro (Miami-Dade County), a Florida poet, educator, and Poet Laureate Emerita of Miami-Dade County; Clifford Parody (Polk County), head of the Creative Writing Department at Harrison School for the Arts and an adjunct professor at Florida Southern College; and William Talenti (Hillsborough County), an award-winning American visual artist and educator whose work explores the simultaneity of identity and the indeterminacy of emotion. Full bios are included below.

Since the start of the Hermitage STARs program in 2011, 74 teachers have represented over 30Florida counties. These prestigious residencies culminate with a free student program, this year hosted in partnership with the Englewood YMCA. 

The STARs program is one of the only Hermitage residency programs open to application; arts educators from schools throughout the State of Florida are eligible, including music, theater, visual art, dance, and creative writing teachers. For more information about the Hermitage STARs program and how to apply, Florida arts educators are encouraged to visit FAAE.org/Star.

Hermitage 2026 STARs Teaching Artist Bios

Génesis Allione

Génesis Allione (Palm Beach County) is a Florida-based visual artist and teaching artist whose work is rooted in community engagement, public art, and creative exploration. A lifelong participant in the arts, she discovered her passion for chalk art through the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival, where an early artistic experience sparked a lasting commitment to her creative practice. Known for her vibrant use of color and distinctive “Coil Effect” techniques, Allione works across a variety of mediums and surfaces, continually experimenting with new ways to tell visual stories. Her artwork reflects a passion for movement, connection, and the transformative power of creativity. As an incoming Visual Art and Digital Media educator at Bak Middle School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida, Allione mentors emerging artists while fostering creativity, innovation, and artistic confidence. Beyond the classroom, she participates in street painting festivals, public art events, and community arts initiatives throughout Florida, sharing her passion for the arts with audiences of all ages. Through her dual roles as artist and educator, she seeks to inspire curiosity, creative risk-taking, and lifelong engagement with the arts.

Caridad Moro

Caridad Moro (Miami-Dade County) is a Florida poet, educator, and Poet Laureate Emerita of Miami-Dade County (2024-2026). In 2025, she received an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship and served as a poetry judge for the National Book Award, highlighting her national influence in contemporary poetry. She is the author of four poetry collections, including Visionware (Finishing Line Press 2009), Tortillera (Texas Review Press 2021), Through the Lens (TRP 2026) and the forthcoming As to Your Comment (TRP 2027). Her work has earned multiple grants and awards, including four Miami-Dade Individual Artist Grants, the 2023 Julia Peterkin Literary Award, and recognition from the Eric Hoffer and First Horizon Book Awards. Her community-centered poetry practice emphasizes collaboration, accessibility, and civic engagement. Previous community partners include O, Miami, Florida International University, The Miami Book Fair, The Knight Foundation, and others. Notable projects include “Generation 305: An Intergenerational Poetry Project,” “The Poetry of Place” at The Deering Estate, and a collaborative sonnet crown honoring Miami-Dade residents. She serves as Senior Editor for SWWIM Every Day and Poetry Curator-at-Large at the Betsy Hotel. Recent work has been featured on NPR, Poets.org, American Poets, Pleiades, and others.

Clifford Parody

Clifford Parody (Polk County) holds an MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and currently lives in Lakeland, Florida. He heads up the Creative Writing Department at Harrison School for the Arts, works as an adjunct professor at Florida Southern College, where he teaches a course on comic books, and teaches middle school poetry, playwriting, short stories, and worldbuilding courses for the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum spring and summer camp programs. Parody received the Noel Callow Award from the American Academy of Poets and was also nominated for Great Britain’s Forward Prize. His work has appeared internationally in Forklift, Ohio, Neon Magazine UK, Backlash Journal UK, Terminus Magazine, and The Greensboro Review, among other publications. Before becoming a teacher, he worked as a journalist for The Ledger, and was named in the Newspaper Association of America’s “30 Under 30” list for his in-depth reporting on untested sexual assault kits in Florida, which led, in part, to changes in legislation. For this and other reporting, he was also a finalist for the Society of Professional Journalism Sunshine State Awards. He is currently working on completing a poetry manuscript and a creative non-fiction graphic novel script.

William Talenti

William Talenti (Hillsborough County) is an award-winning American visual artist and educator whose work explores the simultaneity of identity and the indeterminacy of emotion. Refined over decades, his aesthetic interlaces digital patterns with traditional figurative studies, utilizing saturated color and meticulous collage. Talenti’s practice is defined by a meditative use of fragmented space; he deconstructs the human form within abstracted landscapes using organic grids and a sophisticated creation/destruction principle. His creative perspective is shaped by global immersion, with formal studies at Temple Rome, the Tyler School of Art, and as a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund recipient. This international lens allows him to weave diverse cultural motifs into a portfolio exhibited from Lisbon to Hiroshima. Career Highlights & Recognition: Education: Formal studies in Rome, Tokyo, Pittsburgh, and Miami. Awards: Hillsborough County District Art Teacher of the Year and National Citizenship Education honors. Support: Recipient of grants from the Hillsborough County Arts Council and Disney’s “Future Storytellers.” Exhibitions: Work held in global collections and represented by galleries throughout Florida and Pennsylvania, including the Consulate General of Japan. A dedicated collaborator and educator, Talenti continues to produce visceral, large-scale compositions that challenge the viewer’s perception of the human experience.

Hermitage Announces New Collaborative Partnership with Manhattan Theatre Club 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO) is pleased to announce a new partnership with one of New York’s preeminent nonprofit theaters, Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC). This partnership is designed to support the development of new musicals commissioned by MTC by providing invaluable space, time, and inspiration to develop these new works at the Hermitage. 

This collaboration will provide an opportunity for some of the leading voices in musical theater to take the next step in advancing their creative process and vision. Through these commission-specific residencies, MTC and the Hermitage continue their commitment to supporting visionary artists and developing ambitious new work that reflect the richness, complexity, and diversity of contemporary storytelling.

The first two musicals commissioned through this initiative are The Orange Grove, by Lindsey Ferrentino and Sam Beam; and It’s All Relative, by Sofya Levitsky-Weitz and Benjamin Velez. 

The Orange Grove, with a book by Lindsey Ferrentino and original music by Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), is a modern retelling of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. This new musical centers on a Florida orange grove on the brink of collapse. As one family fights over land, legacy, and the price of survival, the musical examines a century of American history through the lens of a changing nation and the people struggling to preserve what they hold dear. As part of their inaugural Hermitage-MTC Fellowship, Ferrentino and Beam recently presented a free program on the Hermitage Beach in Florida for hundreds of appreciative attendees.

It’s All Relative features a book by Sofya Levitsky-Weitz with music and lyrics by Benjamin Velez. This original musical spanning time and space asks what parts of ourselves we surrender, and what we discover, in pursuit of love. Einstein and his first wife and collaborator, Mileva Mari – a brilliant scientist in her own right – gather friends for a series of jam sessions exploring the nature of the universe and humanity’s place within it. Levitsky-Weitz and Velez’s Hermitage-MTC Fellowship and program will be scheduled for a future date.

“We are excited to be launching this collaboration with Manhattan Theatre Club,” said Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg. “We are proud to be an incubator for new works across all artistic disciplines, with many notable musicals being developed right here on Manasota Key. As our friends at MTC deepen their commitment to commissioning new musicals, this partnership provides a meaningful development step on this journey for some of the leading composer, lyricists, and librettists of our time.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Hermitage to provide meaningful development opportunities to our commissioned musicals,” said MTC Artistic Director Nicki Hunter. “One of my hopes for MTC’s future is that we can continue to build upon our rich legacy as a home for new plays by also developing exciting world-premiere musicals. Being able to offer this group of talented artists the opportunity to develop these works at the Hermitage is particularly meaningful.”

MTC recently presented a newly reimagined version of Queens, by Hermitage Greenfield Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok, whose Pulitzer Prize-winning play Cost of Living was presented on Broadway by MTC. MTC and the Hermitage share many notable alumni, including two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage (Ruined), Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright David Auburn (Proof), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies (Brooklyn Boy), Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel(How I Learned to Drive), Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph (King James), and Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Lackawanna Blues), among others. Bess Wohl, whose Hermitage-developed play Liberation won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award, received this year’s Judith Champion Playwrighting Fellowship from MTC. Other notable artists who have received commissions from both the Hermitage and MTC include Chris Bush (Hermitage Major Theater Award), Madeleine George (Hermitage Major Theater Award), Aleshea Harris (Hermitage Greenfield Prize), Craig Lucas (Hermitage Major Theater Award), and Anne Washburn (Hermitage Major Theater Award).

Hermitage Artistic Director Andy Sandberg served as one of the assistant directors to legendary Broadway director Harold Prince on the original musical LoveMusik, starring Tony Award winners Michael Cerveris and Donna Murphy; this was the first world premiere musical to be produced at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Broadway home.

Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) is a five-time Grammy Award nominated singer-songwriter. For over 20 years, Iron & Wine has captured the emotion and imagination of listeners with distinctly cinematic songs. Playwright, screenwriter, and director Lindsey Ferrentino returned to Broadway this spring with her second show of the season, The Fear of 13, starring two-time Academy Award winner Adrien Brody. Playwright, television, and film writer Sofya Levitsky-Weitz’s work includes FX’s The Bear and Hulu’s The Dropout. Benjamin Velez is a Tony Award-nominated composer and lyricist whose credits include Real Women Have Curves, The Tempest, Kiss My Aztec, and Borderline.

A leading national arts 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 artistic disciplines. The Hermitage hosts artists on its Gulf Coast Manasota Key campus for multi-week residencies, where diverse and accomplished artists from around the world and across multiple disciplines 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, offering audiences in the region a unique opportunity to engage with some of the world’s leading artists and to get an authentic “sneak peek” into extraordinary projects and artistic minds before their works go on to major galleries, concert halls, theaters, and museums around the world. These free and innovative programs include performances, conversations, readings, music concerts, interactive experiences, open studios, school programs, teacher workshops, and more, serving thousands in our regional community each year.

Sam Beam and Lindsey Ferrentino present June program

The Hermitage Artist Retreat today announced a new program, “Script & Song: A Beachfront Evening of Theater and Music” on the Hermitage Beach, featuring multiple Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Sam Beam and celebrated Broadway playwright Lindsey Ferrentino. On Monday, June 22ndat 6:30pm, Beam and Ferrentino will offer insight into their individual artistic practices and share original work and music from their impressive careers, while discussing the nuances of collaborating across mediums. This program will take place just before sunset on the Hermitage Beach.

Iron & Wine is the five-time Grammy Award nominated musical project of Hermitage Fellow and singer-songwriter Sam Beam. Born and raised in South Carolina, Beam is a former film professor who got his start making home recordings before landing on Sub Pop Records. Iron & Wine’s 2002 debut, The Creek Drank the Cradle, garnered both critical and popular acclaim, vaulting Beam into the spotlight of the burgeoning indie folk/Americana scene as one of its new and leading voices. For over twenty years, Iron & Wine has captured the emotion and imagination of listeners with distinctly cinematic songs. His recorded output includes seven full length studio records, collaborations with Calexico, Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses, and Jesca Hoop. Beam has released countless EP’s, singles, compilations, soundtracks, and a live concert documentary. 

Hermitage Fellow Lindsey Ferrentino is a celebrated playwright, screenwriter, and director who returned to Broadway this spring with her second show of the season: The Fear of 13, currently running and starring two-time Academy Award winner Adrien Brody. She previously made her Broadway debut as the bookwriter for The Queen of Versailles, starring Kristin Chenoweth. Her work includes the Olivier Award-nominated Best New Play, The Fear of 13 (Donmar Warehouse, London); Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout Theatre, New York; National Theatre, London); and Amy and the Orphans (also Roundabout). Ferrentino is currently writing and directing the film adaptation of her celebrated play Amy and the Orphans. She is also adapting Rebecca Yarros’ beloved novel In the Likely Event for Netflix and has been included in Variety‘s 2025 “Broadway Stars to Watch.” 

“We are excited to welcome audiences back to the Hermitage Beach for what promises to be a memorable evening with the talents of Sam Beam and Lindsey Ferrentino,” said Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg. “This iconic beachfront remains an unparalleled venue to introduce our community to some of the world’s leading artists, and we are thrilled to have Sam and Lindsey sharing their work and insight with our Hermitage audience.”

Powerhouses in their respective fields, these two decorated artists are at the top of their game in the worlds of contemporary folk music and contemporary theater.  Flood Magazine notes that Beam’s latest album, Hen’s Teeth, “hums through the speakers like a quiet, sudden revelation.” Ferrentino’s first major New York production, Ugly Lies the Bone, was a New York Times Critic’s Pick in 2015 before transferring to the National Theater in London and has been produced in over 100 productions across the world. Since then, she has had several hits in both the United States and abroad, writing with what Variety calls “a moral conscience second to none among her generation of playwrights.” In this Hermitage Beach program, Beam and Ferrentino will offer insight into their individual artistic practices and share original work and music from their impressive careers, while discussing the nuances of collaborating across mediums on Monday, June 22 at 6:30pm on the Hermitage Beach on Manasota Key. 

Hermitage programs are free and open to the public (with a $5/person registration fee), offering Gulf Coast audiences a rare chance to engage and interact with some of the world’s leading talent. Running time for most Hermitage programs is 60-70 minutes. Due to capacity limitations, registration is required at HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Grammy Nominee Rona Siddiqui Returns to the Hermitage to Present Original Music

The Hermitage Artist Retreat today announced a new program, “Songwriting for Character” on the Hermitage Beach, featuring Grammy Award-nominated artist, musical theater composer, and returning Hermitage Fellow Rona Siddiqui. On Thursday, May 28th at 6:30pm, Siddiqui returns to the Hermitage Beach to offer insight into her approach to songwriting in this sunset program. 

Having won some of musical theater’s most prestigious awards as a songwriter, including the Kleban Prize for lyric writing and a Jonathan Larson grant, Siddiqui has also collaborated on notable Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals as a music director and orchestrator – including the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Strange Loop, written by Hermitage Fellow Michael R. Jackson. Siddiqui has previously shared her work at a Hermitage Beach program in a 2020, at the 2024 Hermitage Artful Lobster, and as Music Director for the Hermitage’s 20th Anniversary Celebration at the Van Wezel, which featured Hermitage Artistic Director Andy Sandberg and multiple Tony Award-nominated Broadway talents. For her upcoming program on May 28th, Siddiqui will offer a look into her songwriting techniques and share some of her original work as the sun sets into the Gulf on Manasota Key.  

Rona Siddiqui is a composer/lyricist based in NYC. She is a recipient of the prestigious Kleban Prize, Jonathan Larson Grant, Mark O’Donnell Prize, and Billie Burke Ziegfeld Award. Her show THE BROWN MUSICAL: A New Brown Musical, an autobiographical comedy about growing up bi-ethnic in America, has had a concert at 54 Below and development at Playwrights Horizons. Other musicals include Father Time, co-created by Bryce Pinkham, Zack Fine, and Hermitage Fellow Kirya Traber, Expect Victory, Rattle the Cage, and Hip-Hop Cinderella. She is the recipient of the ASCAP Harold Adamson Lyric Award, the ASCAP Foundation Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Award, and the ASCAP Foundation/Max Dreyfus Scholarship. She has performed on NPR’s “Tiny Desk,” The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and Late Night with Seth Meyers. Her Broadway music direction credits include Pulitzer Prize, Tony, and Obie Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated musical, A Strange Loop, written by Hermitage Fellow Michael R. Jackson. Her Off Broadway works include Bella: An American Tall Tale and Who’s Your Baghdaddy, with orchestration credits for Monsoon Wedding, An Untitled New Play by Justin Timberlake, and numerous albums with Broadway Records and Broadway Backwards. Siddiqui is on the faculty at BerkleeNYC, New York University, and Marymount Manhattan College. She earned her Masters from New York University’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program.

Hermitage programs are free and open to the public (with a $5/person registration fee), offering Gulf Coast audiences a rare chance to engage and interact with some of the world’s leading talent. Running time for most Hermitage programs is 60-70 minutes with no intermission. Due to capacity limitations, registration is required at HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Visual Artist Charisse Pearlina Weston Honored at Hermitage Greenfield Prize Celebration

The annual Hermitage Greenfield Prize Dinner on Sunday, April 12th honored visual artist Charisse Pearlina Weston. This was the central event of a three-day celebration, hosted by the Hermitage Artist Retreat (Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO) in partnership with the Greenfield Foundation. The gala evening was presented at Michael’s on East and featured inspiring performances from Tony Award-nominated Broadway star Will Swenson (Hair, A Beautiful Noise), accompanied by pianist Joseph Holt; original songs performed by Hermitage Fellow and 2024 Hermitage Greenfield Prize-finalist Britton Smith, accompanied by AJ Jagannath; and an unexpected performance of hit song “Golden,” written by Academy Award-winning Hermitage Fellow Mark Sonnenblick and sung by Maicy Powell. The annual gala raised $400,000 in support of the Hermitage’s mission, in addition to the Greenfield Foundation’s annual gift of $175,000. Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg served as master of ceremonies, with Co-Chairs Ellen & Richard Sandor, who announced an additional commitment of $250,000 to underwrite the “Sandor Residency at the Hermitage.” 

As this year’s HGP recipient, Weston receives a $35,000 commission, along with an extended residency at the Hermitage Artist Retreat. Sandberg announced at the event that Weston will also receive a world premiere exhibition in 2028 at The Ringling Museum of Art, presented in collaboration with the Hermitage.

The Hermitage Greenfield Prize (HGP) Dinner kicked off with a year-in-review video showcasing highlighting this year of transformational growth for the Hermitage. The inspirational video was followed by a powerhouse performance from Maicy Powell singing “Golden” from the global mega-hit KPop Demon Hunters, first heard by Sarasota audiences last summer on the Hermitage Beach; “Golden” was written by Hermitage alumnus Mark Sonnenblick, who recently won an Academy Award for this song. Andy Sandberg took the stage as master of ceremonies and spoke about the legacy and impact of the Hermitage Greenfield Prize, thanking Hermitage supporters, friends, and partners. This was followed by a brief video encapsulating the level of talent and the impact that the Hermitage Greenfield Prize has on the greater artistic landscape as well as the spotlight this prestigious award shines on the region. Sandbergthen introduced the evening’s headliner, Tony Award-nominated Broadway star Will Swenson. Swenson started the night with a throwback song from the musical Adrift in Macao. Swenson spoke of meeting Andy Sandberg twenty years ago when they worked together on that show; Sandberg worked with Swenson again as a producer of Hair on Broadway, in which Will co-starred opposite Hermitage Fellow Gavin Creel, earning them both Tony Award nominations. Swenson then picked up a guitar to perform a moving rendition of the song “Gold” from the movie and musical Once. Accompanying the evening on piano was Joseph Holt. Swenson expressed his gratitude for all the Hermitage supporters who recognize the importance of championing new talent and new work.

After a dinner provided by Michael’s on East, the festivities continued with a congratulatory video from past Hermitage Greenfield Prize winners Rucyl Mills (2025), Deepa Purohit (2024), and Sandy Rodriguez (2023). This was followed by a special appearance from Tony Award-winning singer, musician, and Hermitage alumnus Britton Smith, who was accompanied by “Britton and the Sting” bandmate and returning Hermitage Fellow Andrew “AJ” Jagannath. Smith, a past Hermitage Greenfield Prize finalist,charmed the audience with stories from his recent Hermitage residency and unforgettable performances of his original songs “Come to Me” and ‘Bucket of Love.”

Following Smith’s performance, Sandberg introduced curator, co-founder of ARTNOIR, and 2026 HGP juror Larry Ossei-Mensah, who described Charisse’s singular artistic style as having “rigor, curiosity, and imagination,” adding that “the time and space given through this commission is a catalytic moment for her career.” Ossei-Mensah went on to share how excited he is for our community to get to know Charisse as an artist, writer, and creator.  Following a brief video presentation of her work, Sandberg and Ossei-Mensah presented Charisse Pearlina Weston with this year’s Hermitage Greenfield Prize. “I didn’t quite realize what I was walking into this weekend, but I can honestly say that I have never felt so welcomed,” said Weston. Thank you to the Greenfield Foundation, Andy and the Hermitage team, this wonderful community, and all of you. It is an amazing honor to be here.” 

To close out this memorable night after an enthusiastic paddle raise, Will Swenson returned to the stage, first singing “Sara” from the musical Murder Ballad, written by Hermitage alumna Julia Jordan; Swenson debuted the role of Tom in its Off-Broadway premiere. Swenson closed out the night with a rousing rendition of Neil Diamond’s crowd-favorite “Sweet Caroline,” having originated the role of the iconic rock legend in the Broadway musical A Beautiful Noise. Needless to say, all guests were enthusiastically singing along!

“This was a truly remarkable evening and a joyful celebration of visual art and this incredible prize,” said Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg. “It was an honor to celebrate Charisse Pearlina Weston, and we can’t wait to introduce her original commission to our Gulf Coast community. It was thrilling to hear unforgettable live performances from Will Swenson and original songs by Britton Smith, along with inspiring performances from AJ Jagannath, Maicy Powell, Joe Holt, and more. We are so grateful to the Greenfield Foundation, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, and all our sponsors and donors for their belief in our mission and the support of new work.”

The annual Prize Dinner anchored a series of events celebrating the impact and legacy of the Hermitage Greenfield Prize. The programming kicked off on Saturday, April 11th at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, where Hermitage audiences had a chance to meet Charisse Pearlina Weston. This event included an in-depth conversation with this year’s 2026 HGP Winner, alongside 2026 HGP juror Larry Ossei-Mensah, offering an introduction to Weston’s work and career, as well as insight into her plans for this new commission and a sampling of her past work.

On Monday, April 13th the world premiere commission presentation from 2024 HGP recipient Deepa Purohit, Mxx: The Dignity Project, was presented at the Asolo Rep’s Koski Center. The moving and inspiring workshop presentation featured an extraordinary cast of four South Asian women, including Hermitage Fellow Nandita Shenoy, Sara Haider, Indika Senanayake, and Rita Wolf.

The Hermitage Greenfield Prize is presented in partnership with the Philadelphia-based Greenfield Foundation, who launched this initiative with the Hermitage in 2009. The Community Foundation of Sarasota County once again served as the lead community sponsor for this year’s festivities.

Weston was selected by a distinguished jury that included Ian Alteveer, Beal Family Chair of Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Alison Gass, Founding Executive Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco; and Larry Ossei-Mensah, independent curator and co-founder of ARTNOIR, a nonprofit supporting artists, curators, cultural workers, and emerging patrons. For her Hermitage Greenfield Prize commission, Charisse Pearlina Weston will create a new body of work examining specters of desire, control, and recognition through the phenomenon of so-called “zombie laws” – legal statutes that persist beyond their supposed obsolescence. Rather than treating these laws as dormant remnants, Weston approaches them as active structures that continue to organize bodies and social life through desire, fear, punishment, and moral authority. The project draws on Zora Neale Hurston’s ethnographic writing on zombies in Haiti, where the zombie emerges not as spectacle, but as a social figure shaped by unmet desires for recognition, care, and belonging. This commission deepens Weston’s ongoing investigation into the dialectics of Black interior life and resistance, extending her exploration of how structures of power and surveillance produce constrictive intimacies, and how tactics of refusal enable Black interior life to re-inscribe intimacy despite those constraints.

Past winners of this distinguished honor include Rucyl Mills, composer/sound artist (2025); Deepa Purohit, playwright (2024); Rennie Harris, choreographer (2023), Sandy Rodriguez, visual artist (2023), Angélica Negrón, composer (2022); Aleshea Harris, playwright (2021); Helga Davis, composer (2019); Martyna Majok, playwright (2018); David Burnett, photojournalist (2017); Coco Fusco, visual artist (2016); Bobby Previte, composer (2015); Nilo Cruz, playwright (2014); Trenton Doyle Hancock, visual artist (2013); Vijay Iyer, composer (2012); John Guare, playwright (2011); Sanford Biggers, visual artist (2010); Craig Lucas, playwright (2009); and Eve Beglarian, composer (2009).