MANASOTA KEY, FLA.: The Hermitage Artist Retreat has announced the establishment of the Hermitage Major Theater Award (HMTA), a new annual prize that will recognize a playwright or theatre artist with a commission of $35,000 to create an original piece of theatre. Recipients will also receive a residency at the Hermitage to develop the new work and a reading or workshop in a leading arts and cultural center, such as New York, London, Chicago, or Los Angeles.

“This award will be transformational for its recipients, providing not only significant funds and recognition, but also invaluable time, space, and inspiration at the Hermitage, as well as an opportunity to showcase their work,” said Andy Sandberg, artistic director and CEO of the Hermitage, in a statement. “Coming out of this period when the theatre industry has been largely shut down, it is particularly exciting to be able to offer a gift and an opportunity like this to a theatre artist.”

Like the Hermitage Greenfield Prize, the winner of the HMTA will be nominated and selected by a jury of nationally recognized arts leaders. The new work will be developed at the Hermitage’s historic campus, and it is anticipated that the first year reading or workshop will be in New York. Finalists will be encouraged to create a commission that represents the role and impact of art in our culture and society. The prize is also intended to bridge the connection between Sarasota County and other leading arts and culture centers around the world. The initiative is made possible by a multi-year gift from Flora Major and the Kutya Major Foundation, starting with a commitment of $800,000.

The Hermitage is a nonprofit artist retreat that invites accomplished artists from across disciplines for residencies on its beachfront campus, where they interact with the local Gulf Coast community. Each year, the Hermitage awards the $30,000 Hermitage Greenfield Prize for a new work of art and the Aspen Music Festival and School awards the annual Hermitage Prize in Composition.