For Immediate Release

April 7, 2017

NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED MUSICIANS AND PHOTOJOURNALIST

HIGHLIGHT GREENFIELD PRIZE WEEKEND OF

ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE

Sarasota, FL: The Hermitage Artist Retreat, along with its partner the Philadelphia-based Greenfield Foundation, are pleased to announce the details of its famed, nationally-recognized Greenfield Prize weekend. This year’s activities include two opportunities to enjoy the world premiere of the 2015 music commission by Composer/Drummer Bobby Previte, the 2017 Greenfield Prize award presentation at a special dinner for internationally-acclaimed photojournalist David Burnett, and a host of artist talks and discussions scheduled throughout. The events begin on the evening of Thursday, April 20th and run through Sunday, April 23rd. Prices for the events range from FREE for the Creative Conversations to $275 and up for tickets to the Greenfield Prize Award Presentation dinner. For details of all events and information on how to reserve tickets, visit www.GreenfieldPrize.org.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with this year’s exciting lineup of artists and events,” remarked Hermitage Executive Director Bruce E. Rodgers. “This year we will premiere a musical commission, already under contract to be released in January, 2018. In addition, we are giving the award in Photography for the first time. We are excited by the prospects for the proposed commission and look forward to having David Burnett here to tell us more during the weekend.”

New Music New College is presenting the Previte world premiere as part of their ongoing annual music festival. It begins on Thursday, April 20 at 5:00 pm with an artist conversation led by Provost Steven Miles and featuring all the musicians for Rhapsody (Terminals Part II: In Transit) which includes Previte (drums), Nels Cline (acoustic guitar), John Medeski (piano), Greg Osby (alto sax), Zeena Parkins (harp), and Jen Shyu (voice and erhu). Rhapsody will be presented on Friday evening 8:00 pm and Saturday afternoon at 3:00. Tickets are $15. All of the New Music New College talks and performances take place at Mildred Sainer Pavilion at New College, 5313 Bay Shore Road in Sarasota. Reservations can be made online at https://donate.ncf.edu/ newmusictix1617 or by calling NMNC, 941-487-4888.

The Greenfield Prize Presentation dinner will take place on Saturday, April 22, beginning at 6:30 pm at Michael’s on East, 1212 S. East Avenue, Sarasota. Keynote Speaker for the dinner will be Dr. Tony Bannon, Executive Director of the Burchfield Penney Art Center and former director of the George Eastman Museum, known worldwide for its extensive photography collections and exhibitions. Dr. Bannon will present the 2017 Greenfield Prize to this year’s recipient, internationally-acclaimed photojournalist David Burnett, as well known for his portraits of Presidents as he is for his Olympic images.

The Works at the Sarasota Museum of Art, 891 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, will host the last two events, two free Creative Conversations on Sunday, April 23rd beginning at 2:00 pm. This first will be a presentation by David Burnett, entitled My Life, My Work. This year’s Greenfield Prize recipient will talk about all the places he experienced during his illustrious career as well as share his vision for his Greenfield Prize commission. There will be a short break and then the last conversation will begin at 3:15 with a panel discussion, The State of the Art of Photography. Experts participating are Robert Pledge, a jurist for this year’s Greenfield Prize selection, co-founder of Contact Press Images and international curator of photographic exhibitions; Christopher Jones, curator of photography for the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art; Dr. Bannon and David Burnett.

“We have a jam-packed Greenfield Prize weekend,” continued Rodgers. “Anyone with an interest in music or photography who is in the Sarasota vicinity will want to join us. There are many events that will resonate, where you can meet fascinating artists and learn more about the art. Please join us for one or all of the options. We look forward to an exciting and stimulating four days.”

About the Greenfield Prize: The Greenfield Prize at the Hermitage Artist Retreat is a groundbreaking partnership between the Philadelphia-based Greenfield Foundation and the Hermitage Artist Retreat. Pursuing the mission “to bring into the world works of art that will have a significant impact on the broader or artistic culture,” the prize seeks to identify individuals whose past work and future prospects position them to achieve this lofty and ambitious goal. The prize is awarded annually and includes a $30,000 commission for a new piece of work to be created within a two-year time frame. A residency at the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key in Englewood, FL, ensures time and space in which to do the work. The Greenfield Prize rotates each year among three artistic areas; drama, music, and visual arts.

About The Hermitage Artist Retreat: The Hermitage is a not-for-profit artist retreat located in Englewood, FL. It invites accomplished painters, sculptors, writers, playwrights, poets, composers and other artists from all over the world for residencies on its beachfront historic campus. Artists are asked to interact with the community during their stay and as a result, Hermitage artists touch thousands of Gulf Coast community residents with unique and inspiring programs each year. Hermitage community programs are partially sponsored by Philanthropist Gerri Aaron, the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and the Woman’s Exchange. In addition to the prestigious Greenfield Prize, the Hermitage also partners with the Aspen Music Festival and School to award the annual Hermitage Prize to a composition student during the Festival. For more information about The Hermitage Artist Retreat, call 941-475-2098, ext. 5, or visit the website at www.HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

About New Music New College: Beginning with one concert in 1998, New Music New College has grown into a new-music powerhouse, presenting five major concerts a season of avant-garde, contemporary, and experimental works. New Music New College (NMNC) is an extension of the music program at Sarasota’s New College of Florida and, in addition to bringing world-class performers here as visiting artists, it often involves New College students as performers and/or composers. This season has already featured Kathleen Supové, Jennifer Choi, James Moore, Da Capo Chamber Players with Lucy Shelton, ensemble mise-en, and two experimental works performed in unusual spaces by New College students, faculty, and staff alongside members of the community. NMNC is proud to close this season with the world premiere of Greenfield Prize winner Bobby Previte’s Terminals Part II: In Transit featuring Previte on drums and Wilco’s Nels Cline on acoustic guitar, John Medeski on piano, Greg Osby on alto sax, Zeena Parkins on harp, and Jen Shyu on voice and erhu (a Chinese fiddle).Previous visitors to NMNC have included Kate Soper with Wet Ink; Miya Masaoka; JACK Quartet; Third Coast Percussion; Blair McMillen; Pamela Z; Ekmeles; NOW Ensemble; Ugly Beauties; Miranda Cuckson and Christopher Burns; Toby Twining Music; Fluid Motion; George E. Lewis; Mantra Percussion; and Michael Gordon. For more information, please visitwww.newmusicnewcollege.org.

About the Sarasota Museum of Art

The Sarasota Museum of Art, the region’s first museum dedicated to contemporary art, will be a dynamic center for exhibiting innovative and compelling visual art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. A vital part of Sarasota’s rich cultural landscape, the Museum will interweave exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach initiatives to engage a diverse audience and to serve as a destination for creative discovery and discourse. In advance of opening its doors, the Museum is offering seasonal public programming at The Works, a pop-up event space located just north of the historic Sarasota High School building and future home of the Museum. For more information about the Sarasota Museum of Art and its seasonal programming, please visit https://www.ringling.edu/museum.