Short Description

Ragdale provides up to 150 residencies annually to artists working in a variety of disciplines including dance, music, writing, and visual art. Residencies are 18 days long and include individual accommodations plus private workspaces, all located on a celebrated campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Artists experience uninterrupted time and space to focus on their work, surrounded by remarkable Arts and Crafts style architecture, cozy spaces for gathering and working, and the camaraderie of an exceptional cohort. Residents gather on weeknights to enjoy delicious meals made with ingredients harvested from our gardens whenever possible. Residents have access to 20 acres of open prairie land maintained by our friends at Lake Forest Open Lands Association. A local train line provides a quick trip to and from Chicago.

Eligibility

Ragdale encourages applications from artists representing the widest possible range of perspectives and demographics, and to that end, emerging as well as established artists are invited to apply. While there are no publication, exhibition or performance requirements for application, applicants should be working at the professional level in their fields.   

Ragdale encourages artists of all backgrounds to apply and does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of age, disability, gender, origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Submission Requirements

  1. A one-page artist’s statement and work plan explaining your work and what you plan to do while in residence.
  2. A one or two-page CV or resume that summarizes your professional background.
  3. Work samples that show work from the past 2-3 years. All media is acceptable. Most electronic file types and sizes are accepted. 
  4. If you would like to be considered for a fellowship, we require an eligibility statement of 500 words or less for each fellowship you would like to be considered for. An eligibility statement explains how you qualify for the selected fellowship and how a fellowship would support your work at this time.

How to Apply

Online Application

Program Benefits & Awards

18-day residency session for individuals. Based on personal financial considerations, artists determine their own residency fee, and may opt to pay according to our suggested income-based sliding scale.  No financial aid application is required. Admitted residents are responsible for their own travel.  

Fellowships: We currently offer 11 fellowships each year. All qualified applicants may apply for fellowships through this application. A fellowship award includes an 18-day fee-waived residency for individuals and a stipend of at least $1000. Fellowship recipients are encouraged to take part in leading a Ragdale Youth Engagement educational outreach program, but is not mandatory. Details are determined upon acceptance of fellowship. All applicants who apply for fellowships will be considered. Please note that fellowship applicants may be awarded a residency without a fellowship award. Fellowship awards are disclosed upon acceptance.

Ragdale awards up to 165 residencies (across sessions) annually to artists working in a variety of disciplines. Each year, residencies are awarded to approximately:

  • 10 dance artists
  • 10 musicians/composers
  • 20-30 visual artists
  • 5-10 screenwriters/playwrights
  • 10-20 poets
  • 25-30 fiction writers
  • 25-30 nonfiction writers
  • 5-10 interdisciplinary artists/writers

An 18-day residency award for individuals includes:

  • Private housing in a private or shared facility
  • Private bathroom
  • Private or shared kitchen
  • Private live/work space
  • Cozy communal spaces for gathering, eating, and working
  • Chef-prepared communal dinners Monday-Friday
  • Limited grocery basics
  • Access to 80 acres of nature preserve, including 20 acres of prairie maintained by Lake Forest Open Lands Association

Entry Fee

There is an application fee of $25.

Artists determine their own residency fee based on personal financial considerations, and may opt to pay according to the suggested sliding scale of $35 – $250 per day. No financial aid application is required.

A residency costs Ragdale approximately $250 daily to host each resident. If you are in the position to pay more than the suggested daily residency fee rate, we encourage you to make a gift to ensure longevity of the program and support all artists’ ability to participate.

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

Location

Illinois, USA

Timeline

  • Application deadline: 1 May 2025

Website Link: https://www.ragdale.org/residencies

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