Pictured: The Historic Hermitage House. Photo courtesy of Hermitage Artist Retreat.

The Hermitage Artist Retreat is pleased to announce the continuation of the Sarasota Cross Arts Collaborative, made possible once more with generous support from the Koski Family Foundation. This initiative is designed to give frequent performers and company members from leading Sarasota arts organizations a chance to expand their artistic practice from ‘performer’ to ‘creator.’ In the exciting second season of the Hermitage’s Cross Arts Collaborative, this distinguished honor has been awarded to Lizzie Hagstedt, a frequent musical collaborator with Asolo Repertory Theatre, and Jessica Obiedzinski, a long-standing company member at Sarasota Contemporary Dance. A free public program showcasing the work Hagstedt and Obiedzinski is planned for the fall of 2023; details will be announced at a later time.

“We know there are actors, dancers, musicians, and performing artists working amidst our circle of frequent collaborators who have passion projects waiting in the wings,” said Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg, "This could be an actor writing a play between production contracts, a violinist composing a symphony after rehearsals, a dancer yearning to expand into the choreographer's space – or someone looking to work across an entirely new genre."

Pictured: The Historic Hermitage House. Photo courtesy of Hermitage Artist Retreat.