Historic $12 Million Land Gift to Hermitage Artist Retreat Will Double Residency Capacity on Manasota Key

The Hermitage Artist Retreat has received one of the most significant philanthropic gifts in its history — a $12 million donation of land and property on Manasota Key, marking one of the largest land gifts ever made to a nonprofit arts organization in the United States.

Announced on January 15, 2026, the transformational gift comes from the Morrison and Steans family, who have donated three adjacent Gulf-to-Bay properties spanning 6.5 acres and including five residential structures. Located less than half a mile from the Hermitage’s existing campus, the new site will more than double the organization’s capacity for its internationally acclaimed artist residency program.

A Generational Gift Rooted in Art, Nature, and Community

The properties — once home to members of the historic Vanderbilt family beginning in the early 1950s — were later acquired in 1987 from Samuel and Lydia Auchincloss by the Steans and Morrison families. For nearly four decades, the homes served as a private family retreat for seven daughters, their families, and guests, deeply embedded in the natural beauty and quiet inspiration of Manasota Key.

The donation is made in honor of the families’ parents — Harrison I. Steans, Lois M. Steans, Harold M. Morrison, and Adeline S. Morrison — whose shared belief in the power of creativity, community, and environmental stewardship shaped this extraordinary act of generosity.

“Our parents believed deeply in the mission and values of the Hermitage,” the families said in a joint statement. “We donate this property filled with hope that it will always remain a place of kindness and tolerance — a place where artists feel welcome, where collaboration thrives, and where creativity and nature are carefully stewarded for generations to come.”

Adeline Morrison remains an active supporter of the Hermitage, along with her daughters, nieces, and extended family.

Expanding a World-Class Residency Program

The Hermitage Artist Retreat is internationally recognized for its invitation-only, multi-week residencies, providing playwrights, composers, authors, choreographers, visual artists, and interdisciplinary creators with the rare gift of uninterrupted time and space to develop new work. Artists in residence at the Hermitage have gone on to premiere projects on Broadway, in major concert halls, museums, literary festivals, and cultural institutions around the world.

With the addition of the new Manasota Key properties, the Hermitage will be able to host more artists simultaneously, support collaborative and project-based residencies, and further expand its global impact while remaining deeply rooted in the local community.

“This transformative gift is a true game-changer for the future of the Hermitage,” said Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO. “The belief the Morrison and Steans family has shown in our mission is profoundly moving. This gift allows us to support individual artists and larger collaborative projects — work that will be shared across the globe while being created right here on Manasota Key.”

A Lasting Legacy for the Arts and the Environment

The property was officially transferred to the Hermitage in 2025, aligning directly with the organization’s mission to foster and inspire the most influential and culturally consequential artists of our time. Now in its 23rd year, the Hermitage has never received a single gift of this magnitude.

Equally significant is the family’s shared commitment to environmental preservation, ensuring that the land’s natural ecology remains protected while serving as a sanctuary for creative work.

“Our family has a longstanding commitment to Manasota Key and its preservation,” the families added. “The Hermitage has demonstrated that art and nature can coexist in a way that enriches both the local community and the global cultural landscape.”

With this landmark donation, the Hermitage Artist Retreat enters a new era — expanding its footprint, amplifying its impact, and securing its place as one of the world’s most inspiring homes for artistic creation.

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