Over two decades of Hermitage alumni came together in New York on Monday, June 2 to celebrate the lasting legacy of the Hermitage and connect with Hermitage Fellows across all artistic disciplines. Nearly 200 alumni – including Pulitzer Prize winners, Tony and Grammy Award winners, MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellows, National Book Award winners, and more – gathered together at the Sanctuary Hotel’s Haven Rooftop 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 800 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.”
“We are a huge community of artists that cares deeply about the Hermitage’s future,” said Hermitage Fellow and trustee Doug Wright, a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright. “Going down and seeing the Hermitage campus after the hurricanes was actually devastating. However, I can’t express enough how remarkably heartening it was to see the community step up and lend their homes and support to the Hermitage while the property was being repaired. It is a powerful indication of just how much this community is behind the Hermitage and its vital importance to the future of the arts.”
The outdoor event coincided with the sunset, an iconic memory for many Hermitage Fellows, and the party featured free-flowing food and cocktails, a silent disco dance party, a photo booth, balloon artistry, and more. More importantly, the evening brought together multiple generations of Hermitage alumni 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 artist and individuals. Sandberg briefly interrupted the party to thank everyone for coming, to encourage everyone 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 national commissions – the annual Hermitage Greenfield Prize and the Hermitage Major Theater Award, which presents workshops and readings in major arts capitals such as New York, London, and Chicago. The Hermitage is the only major arts organization in Florida committed exclusively to developing and supporting new work across all artistic disciplines.
This moment of celebration was particularly meaningful following the two worst hurricanes in the Hermitage’s history, with Helene and Milton touching down in the fall of 2024 – less than two weeks apart. “The outpouring of love and support from our community of artists this season has been truly overwhelming,” added Sandberg. “It was an honor to celebrate with this passionate, beautifully diverse, and undeniably talented network of alumni. We are in awe of the work this community creates and privileged to continue making space for their artistry to thrive.”