The Hermitage Artist Retreat today announced a modified program schedule for October and November following the impact of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Despite the damages to the Hermitage campus on Manasota Key, the planned program with Broadway veteran Britton Smith will be moving ahead this Thursday at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Downtown Sarasota. The Hermitage and Selby Gardens have jointly decided to move forward with this special event to celebrate the resilient spirit of our community in this time of healing. “Let the Music Set You Free” is scheduled for Thursday, October 17 at 5:30pm. This program kicks off the fifth anniversary of the “Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” series and features Broadway veteran, Tony Award winner, and 2023 Hermitage Greenfield Prize finalist Britton Smith. The bandleader for the alternative soul band Britton and the Sting, this visionary artist and advocate is a force of nature determined to unite the world through a passion for music and theater. This event is being presented in partnership with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and DreamLarge. (The Hermitage has arranged alternative artist accommodations and studio space due to campus damages.) Hermitage programs are free and open to the public (with a $5/person registration fee), offering Gulf Coast audiences a rare chance to engage and interact with some of the world’s leading talent. Running time for most Hermitage programs is 60-70 minutes with no intermission. Due to capacity limitations, registration is required at HermitageArtistRetreat.org. The Artful Lobster, the Hermitage fall benefit scheduled for Saturday, November 9 from 11:30am to 2pm, will be relocated from the Hermitage campus to the newly finished outdoor courtyard of the Ora in Sarasota. This outdoor celebration will be the first event to take place in this beautiful open-air venue, and funds will go to support the Hermitage’s core programs and hurricane repair efforts. All sponsors and attendees will receive further details from the Hermitage, and additional sponsorships for this fall fundraiser may be purchased by contacting Development@HermitageArtistRetreat.org or (941) 475-2098, Ext. 2. With the exception of these two events on October 17 and November 9, all other Hermitage programs and events through November 17 have been cancelled. Registrants will be contacted by the Hermitage. At this time, all remaining programs in November and December remain open for registration at HermitageArtistRetreat.org.