connections in Sarasota with the Arts Council
so we formed this little steering committee.
We met at the Manasota Beach Club and
we’d have these meetings. We didn’t know
what we were doing at all, and so Patty, who
had Arts Council background, really took
the reins and brought in Sid Adler and his
wife, Rita. They were just cool people, art
collectors, very connected in the Sarasota
arts community and cultural community. They
were very generous, kind and wonderful
people, so that was really how all of that
got started. Little by little, we started raising
money.”
The organization gathered together
funding, both grants and private donations.
The repairs cost about $1.3 million, but
nothing came from taxpayers. Work began
on the main house in 2002. The house was
unceremoniously placed on top of concrete
pilings and restored inside and out.
Today, a nine-member committee selects
the artists-in-residence, consisting of painters,
sculptors, writers, playwrights, poets,
composers, who are offered invitations to The
Hermitage. Up to fi ve artists stay at a time for
up to six weeks, and their food is provided.
Those who stay the six weeks are required to
complete two acts of community service, such
as a reading, exhibit, or performance.
“There’s a new director out there right now,”
said Carroll. “I think he’s bringing new life to
the place. I am really excited even though I
haven’t met him yet. He seems very open,
which is a perfect fi t for The Hermitage.”
Current view of The Hermitage House from the beach.
“You know what’s interesting about these
programs,” explained Andy Sandberg. “Is
that I can’t even always tell you exactly what
they’re going to be, because we give the artist
their freedom to create. They’re not going
to have their work reviewed by the New
York Times. When we offer performances,
this is about giving us a safe sneak peek into
their process. As someone coming from the
theater world, their new work has been my
focus and my passion. I’ve always recognized
how that was one of the most exciting stages
of work but also one of the most challenging,
so to have an organization that is committed
to supporting artists at that stage in their
career, it’s not always the sexiest support, but
it’s the most enriching and most meaningful.
To know that The Hermitage plays a role in
that, and that this community plays a role in
that, is really exciting.”
Ruth Swayze passed away in 2008 at age
75, from complications from lung disease.
She told an interviewer in 2000 that The
Hermitage “is a magical place. It just breeds
imagination and creativity.”
Carroll Swayze agrees and credits her
mother for saving The Hermitage that survives
today.
“I think my mother is very peaceful wherever
she is because she’s always been a peaceful
person. Some people, you just feel their
energy and sometimes it’s frantic, but not my
mom. She’s cool and wherever she is, she’s
happy, so it’s all good.”