Ragdale is a nonprofit artist residency program and preservation site located on the historic Arts & Crafts country estate of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw and poet and playwright Frances Wells Shaw.
Over 200 residencies, numerous fellowships, and a variety of themed residencies and creative sabbaticals are offered annually to creative professionals of all types, making Ragdale one of the largest interdisciplinary artist communities in the country. Ragdale residents represent a cross-section of ages, cultures, experiences, and disciplines, creating a diverse and vibrant community.
In eleven 18-day sessions, artists-in-residence enjoy uninterrupted time for work and creativity on the idyllic Ragdale campus, a supportive environment, dynamic artist exchanges, an adjacent 80 acres of wilderness preserve including a remnant Illinois prairie, and community dinners. Artists in themed residencies and creative sabbaticals, students, and the general public are also invited to take part in the creative magic that is Ragdale.
Current Residents
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 Youth Engagement 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.
