Ragdale is a nonprofit artists’ residency program and community located on the former Arts & Crafts country estate of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw and poet and playwright, Frances Wells Shaw.
Nearly 150 residencies, numerous fellowships, and a variety of themed residencies are now offered annually to creative professionals of all types, making Ragdale one of the largest interdisciplinary artists’ communities in the country. Ragdale residents represent a cross-section of ages, cultures, experiences, and mediums, for a diverse and vibrant community.
In each session, artists-in-residence enjoy uninterrupted time for work and creativity, a supportive environment, dynamic artist exchanges, 50 acres of idyllic prairie, a 7-acre historically significant campus, and a community dinner each evening.
Current and Recent Residents
Martin Vargas, Ragdale Foundation, Waud Fellow for the Formerly Incarcerated
Studio House of Dance and Music,
The Sybil Shearer Studio
The Sybil Shearer Dance Studio
“A Space to Create” - The Sybil Shearer Dance Studio at Ragdale
Ragdale’s events make dynamic connections between resident artists and the public.
What is Ragdale?
Ragdale is a nonprofit artists’ residency program and community located on the former Arts & Crafts country estate of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw and his poet and playwright wife, Frances Wells Shaw.
I’d like to learn about…
Residencies
All-inclusive creative experiences, free from distraction, with live/work studios and unmatched staff support. 18- and 25-day residencies for individuals and 1-week residencies for groups.
Fellowships
Awarded annually by the Ragdale Curatorial Board, for talented residents who qualify based on merit. 18- or 25-day residencies with additional financial support.
Ragdale Retreats
Ragdale Retreats offers a unique creative sanctuary – and ideal retreat location – for private groups of all abilities and disciplines, at the historic Ragdale estate, to revitalize and reconnect. Groups of up to 23 people are invited to reserve the estate for exclusive retreats on select dates throughout the year, and recharge their creative energy through interactive programs, private performances and informative face-to-face roundtables led by noted Ragdale alumni.
Ragdale is...
“Ragdale is a place where creativity is nurtured in all its forms. I expected the solitude, the new friendships, and the time and space to write. I just didn’t expect to be treated so well. Poor, struggling artists take heed: at Ragdale, life is rich.”
Christine Piper, Writer
Ragdale in Schools Program
Ragdale artists present a series of talks, lead workshops, and discuss their professional careers to students from kindergarten through college. School visits are arranged with teachers and unique programs are developed along with the artist to present topics connecting curricula to the artist’s work. During on-campus site field trips, students learn about residency programs, visit with artists in their studios, and witness the creative process directly.
Architect Howard Van Doren Shaw designed the original 1912 Ragdale Ring as an outdoor theatre to accommodate the plays of his wife, Frances.
Ragdale Ring Competition
Ragdale, the nationally acclaimed artist residency program in Lake Forest, Illinois, invites architects, artists, and designers to apply for the opportunity to design, build, and exhibit the 2020 Ragdale Ring, a temporary theatre to house summer concerts, performances, and events.