The Hermitage Artist Retreat, 6660 Manasota Key Road, Englewood, recently announced 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 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. 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.