For Applicants

What is Ragdale?

Ragdale offers artists, writers, musicians/composers, dancers, and architects of the highest caliber an inspiring, supportive environment where they can produce enduring creative works. Nearly 150 residencies are offered annually to creative professionals of all types, making Ragdale one of the largest interdisciplinary artists’ communities in the country.

What are Ragdale’s Accessible and DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Inclusion) offerings?

Ragdale strives to cultivate a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for all artists. Please contact Ragdale Staff (deanna@ragdale.org / 847-234-1063) to discuss and questions, comments, and suggestions you may have or to set up a video call to tour the campus and facilities.

What does Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) mean to Ragdale’s Residency Program?

Ragdale is committed to diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive programs for all who attend including those who identify as BIPOC, living with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized individuals. We actively solicit feedback from artists in residence so that we can make informed decisions about improving our facilities, programs, and policies.

Residency Conduct / Community Guidelines

Residents can support their colleagues. For instance, you are hosting an open studio or gathering in your workspace, double check that the path is clear and well-lit, furniture is out of the pathways but available, and bathroom is accessible. Print out any readings in advance for your fellow residents who experience low hearing or deafness.

Locating Ragdale:

• Ragdale is located in Lake Forest just thirty miles north of Chicago, IL

• Many residents and guests miss our driveway the first time they approach it. Look for the blue “Ragdale” signs or a U-shaped brick driveway.

Ragdale’s campus has three main buildings:

• 1260 N Green Bay Rd - Barnhouse + Main Office

• 1230 N Green Bay Rd - Ragdale House + Main Parking Lot

• 1272 N Green Bay Rd - Hart McCutcheon House + Additional Parking

Parking and Pathways:

• Ragdale has one main parking lot located at 1230 North Green Bay Rd. Except for arrival and loading, residents are expected to park in this parking lot unless accessible parking is required. Each building will have at least one accessible parking space and one dedicated van-accessible parking space. Accessible parking spaces will be assigned to an individual for the duration of the residency.

• Pathways between buildings include paved, crushed gravel, and brick.

Communal Spaces:

• Ragdale’s 1st floor studios and communal spaces are accessible. This includes kitchens, dining facilities, living rooms, bathrooms, and conference room. Wherever possible, doorknobs have been replaced by lever handles.

Outdoor Spaces + Prairie:

• Ragdale has several outdoor areas to enjoy. The lawn is mowed regularly. The garden has grass and paver paths. The Ragdale Ring project changes locations each year, and is often positioned on the lawn. The lawn and wood chip paths can be challenging to navigate in wet and cold weather. Please consider this when planning group activities.

• Ragdale is located adjacent to 50 acres of open prairie that is maintained by Lake Forest Open Lands, a member-based conservation organization. We ask that residents stay on the paths and not to take anything from the prairie. Be aware that members may walk their dogs leashed or unleashed. The pathways are unpaved, and can be muddy in spring and icy in winter.

• Residents have permission to use the golf cart to navigate the campus and prairie.

Buildings:

• Ragdale currently offers three accessible live/work studio spaces appropriate for visual art, dance, music, writing, and other disciplines. Two additional accessible live/work spaces are anticipated in 2023-2024.

• Ragdale House, 1230 North Green Bay Rd., is a house for residents’ live/work spaces and communal gatherings. 5 live/work writers’ rooms are on the second floor and 1 is located on the first floor. An accessible bathroom renovation is planned for the 1st floor live/ work space. A kitchen, living room, dining room, and plant room are located on the first floor. Laundry facilities and bike-room are located in the basement. The basement is accessible from the outside of the building. The names of the resident rooms in this building are: Caretaker’s Apartment, Top of the Stairs, Blue, Albert’s, Sarah’s, and Alice’s.

• Barnhouse, 1260 North Green Bay Rd. is a house for administrative offices, chef’s kitchen, residents’ live/work spaces and communal gatherings.

• Ragdale’s Hart McCutcheon House, 1272 North Green Bay Rd. is a house for residents’ live/work spaces and communal gatherings.

• Studio House for Dance and Music is two resident live/work spaces. The residents assigned to these spaces may invite others into their space.

• Meadow Studio is one residents’ work-only space. The resident assigned to this space may invite others into their space. 

Additional Offerings for Artists with Disabilities:

• See our fellowships page for available opportunities including the Prairie and Neilsen Fellowships.

• Live-work spaces are equipped with adjustable height beds and desks and remote/app controlled blinds, ac/heat, speakers, and more. Residents have access to studio-grade headphones, microphones, speakers, monitors, projectors, DSLR camera and more.

• Personal Care Assistants (PCA): residents may request to bring a PCA of their choosing. Ragdale can offer a private room and all meals. The resident will be responsible for employment of their PCA or Studio Assistant.

• Transportation: an all-terrain scooter is available for access to the prairie and the surrounding area.

• Fitness and Physical Therapy: Ragdale can recommend local massage therapists, yoga studios, or Pilates facilities while in residence so that artists can secure the support they need to be productive, healthy, and well during residency.

When was Ragdale Founded?

Ragdale was founded in 1976 in Lake Forest, Illinois by poet Alice Judson Hayes, the granddaughter of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, and his wife, poet Frances Wells Shaw. In 1897, Shaw built the country estate where the Ragdale Foundation is located, on the edge of a beautiful 50-acre prairie. Ragdale was the family’s summer retreat, and included an outdoor theatre, the Ragdale Ring, where Shaw’s friends and family frequently performed for the Lake Forest community. Today, Ragdale draws on that rich artistic heritage, hosting performances, open studios, seminars and lectures that are open to the public as well as providing time and space for creative professionals to do their work.

How can I stay connected and informed?

There are many ways to interact with Ragdale throughout the year, including youth and adult workshops, lectures, tours, volunteer opportunities, and open studios. For more information about Ragdale events, sign up for eNews, a monthly online bulletin sent to your email address.

How long is a residency?

Residencies are 18 days long.

Is there a residency fee?

Ragdale awards residencies and fellowships regardless of an artist’s ability to pay. We are building our endowment to ensure a more sustainable future.

How much does it cost to attend?

To make residencies more accessible, Ragdale uses a flexible, self-determined fee structure that allows residents to set a rate that reflects their financial situation. We also offer payment plans. No financial aid application or proof of income is required.

Residents may choose to pay according to our suggested sliding scale of $35–$250 per day (for 18 days) or determine another amount that feels appropriate for their circumstances. Fee selection and payment plan opt-in is established on the resident contract form. The total residency fee is calculated after the $100 non-refundable deposit, which is to be submitted upon completion of the contract form and applied toward the total balance.

A residency costs Ragdale approximately $250 per day per resident. If you are able to contribute above the suggested rates, your support helps make it possible for others to attend and will be received with much gratitude.

Payment Schedule

• December 7 (year prior): Non-refundable $100 deposit due

• December + January: Invoices sent

• 60 days before residency start date: Payment reminder sent

• 45 days before residency start date: Payment due in full or payment plan set-up

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Please note that our cancellation policy is in place because residencies are carefully scheduled and reserved in advance. Last-minute cancellations make it difficult for staff to offer the opportunity to another artist, as residencies require significant preparation and coordination. We understand that unexpected circumstances may arise, and we appreciate your understanding that cancellations impact both our operations and other artists waiting for a chance to attend.

• Cancellation 46–60 days before residency start date: 75% of fee refunded (minus deposit)

• Cancellation 15–45 days before residency start date: 50% of fee refunded (minus deposit)

• Cancellation 0–14 days before start date: no refund

A limited number of fellowships are awarded to residents each year. Fellowship recipients do not pay a residency fee and receive a stipend of $1000 or more. Please see fellowships page for more details about awards and eligibility.

How do I apply for a fellowship?

The residency application will allow you to indicate if you would like to be considered for a fellowship. On the application you can choose multiple fellowships you would like to be considered for. All fellowships require a statement of eligibility. You must include these in your application to be considered. We have a limited number of fellowships to offer each year. Please note that you may be awarded a residency without a fellowship. Your acceptance letter will indicate if you were chosen to receive a fellowship.

Fellows are required to participate in the Ragdale Youth Engagement Initiative. Fellows have up to 18 months after their residency to fulfill this requirement. Fellows will work with the Artistic Director, Regin Igloria, to design their program which may look like a school workshop, artist talk, video interview, etc.

What is the selection process?

Applications are juried annually by the Ragdale Curatorial Council. The group consists of artists, arts administrators, and other professional peers in the creative field.

When is the application date?

The application portal opens in early January or February and submissions are due in May for residencies taking place the following year.

Do I need letters of recommendation?

Recommendation letters are not required or accepted.

Is there a waitlist?

Yes. Applicants placed on the waitlist are considered and prioritized based on work samples, studio requirements, discipline, stated availability, and other needs. If an opening occurs that that meets all criteria, the applicant will be notified. A position on the waitlist does not guarantee a residency. A position on the waitlist only lasts for the year the applicant applied for.

I have been a resident at Ragdale, when can I apply again?

The most an artist may be awarded a residency at Ragdale is every-other year.

Does Ragdale provide supplies or equipment?

Artists should plan to bring their own materials and equipment to Ragdale. This includes items such as laptops; power tools; canvas pliers; and other discipline-specific technology as needed. For artists traveling from a distance, items may be shipped or purchased from area stores while in residence. Some equipment may be available to borrow during your stay.

Equipment available: (limited, by request) 4k video and photo DSLR camera, headphones, microphone, speaker, projector, projector screen, field recorder, electric piano, and more. Please reach out to the Program Facilities Coordinator with any questions about equipment rental and studio requirements.

Housing and Studios: Currently, Ragdale consists of 6 buildings, 15 private bedrooms, 15 private bathrooms, 3 communal kitchens, 2 private kitchenettes, 10 live/work accommodations for writers, 3-4 studios for visual artists, 1 dance studio, and 1 music studio. Writers are assigned a bedroom with a desk. Live/work studios and communal spaces are accessible. 

Wi-Fi: All facilities have Wi-Fi except for the Meadow Studio (artists assigned this space may bring their own “hotspot”).

Visual art studios: natural and spot lighting, wall space, studio sink, utility cart, easel, folding tables.  Bedroom may be attached or separate.

Accessible Studios:

Visual art/writing: high-definition computer monitor, adjustable height bed and desk, remote-controlled heat, lighting, and window blinds, natural and spot lighting, large white wall space, studio sink, utility cart, easel, folding tables. Attached private bedroom and kitchenette.

Dance studio: high-definition computer monitor, adjustable height bed and desk, remote-controlled heat, lighting, and window blinds, natural and spot lighting, sprung floor, movable mirrors. Attached private bedroom and kitchenette.

Music studio: HD computer monitor, adjustable height bed and desk, remote-controlled heat, lighting, and window blinds, natural and spot lighting, sound curtain, baby-grand piano, electric piano. Attached private bedroom and kitchenette.

I am on a special diet. Should I bring my own food?

We can accommodate some special dietary needs including vegetarian and vegan diets. Residents submit a dietary needs form in advance of their arrival. However, residents should bring specialty items that are not on our list of basic provided foods (see handbook).

How is the day structured?

Residents may structure their days however they see fit. There are quiet hours during the day for uninterrupted work. Residents and fellows may serve themselves breakfast and lunch from food provided in the communal kitchens. On weekdays everyone gathers together for a communal meal at 6:00pm. On weekends residents may cook a meal together, eat leftovers, or eat at one of the many restaurants in the surrounding area.

Can I bring my family or pets with me?

Meals and housing are limited to Ragdale residents and fellows only. To minimize disruptions for the cohort of artists in residence, there are no provisions for partners, children, or pets at Ragdale.

Collaboration is encouraged. Collaborators and collaborations are encouraged to apply for Residencies. Dance, music, visual art, and non-discipline-specific “white box” studios are available for collaborative projects. All collaborators will need to apply and admitted separately to be considered for 18-day residencies.

Pets are not allowed at Ragdale. Registered Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are permitted with advance notice on the residency contract form, provided all organization policies outlined in the resident handbook are followed. Residents wishing to bring a Service Animal or ESA must include this information in the studio/accessibility notes section of their contract form and must directly inform the Residency Manager, ensuring that proper accommodations can be arranged ahead of their stay.​ Ragdale requests that residents submit a brief description outlining their need for an Emotional Support Animal. This information should also be included in the studio/accessibility notes section of the contract form.

Day guests and collaborators are welcome with permission (at least 48-hours in advance) for short visits or to work with residents. All rules pertaining to privacy and use of facilities apply to guests.

Guest visitors are allowed during the day in the common and outdoor spaces of Ragdale. Residents must inform staff and their cohort about any visitors. To maintain the sanctity of the residency space for all participants, guest visitors are not allowed at dinner or in any sleeping rooms. Guests must abide by all Ragdale rules and regulations. Residents are responsible for their guests while on campus.

Do I need a car while I am at Ragdale?

Ragdale is located in a residential suburb. The campus is about 1 mile from the center of Lake Forest. Amenities such as grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, shops, yoga studios, pharmacies, and the train station can be all found in downtown Lake Forest; a 20-minute walk, 8-minute bike ride, or 3-minute drive away from campus.

It is not necessary to have a car while in residence. The Metra Union Pacific North Line (UP-N) Lake Forest train stop is a 20-minute walk away and provides regular service into Chicago. Metra Train tickets can be purchased through the Ventra mobile app.

Ragdale does not have a shuttle or car service.

Ragdale has a limited number of bicycles available for residents to use. Helmets, lights, and locks are provided. Residents ride at their own risk.

Though it isn’t necessary, residents may choose to rent a car if they desire. There is plenty of parking on campus.

Residents may also opt to use ridesharing apps or may be able to ride with fellow residents who have vehicles on campus.

Is there a gym nearby?

There are many fitness facilities located in the area.

Workout equipment and a swimming pool at Lake Forest College Sports & Recreation Center are available to Ragdale residents at no charge.

There are also opportunities for walking, running, biking, yoga, and other activities near Ragdale.

Are classes or instructors available?

Ragdale does not provide formal instruction for artists-in-residence. The intention of Ragdale is that artists should be able to work independently while here.