Ragdale is a not-for-profit arts organization residing in and named after the historic 1897 Arts and Crafts country retreat designed by renowned architect Howard Van Doren Shaw for his wife, the poet and playwright Frances Wells Shaw and their family. As the Shaw family grew to include four generations of artists, Ragdale’s legacy became its continuing cycle of creativity that has remained unbroken for almost 130 years.

Ragdale is an artist residency program located on the north shore of Chicago that provides time and space for writers, dancers, choreographers, architects, musicians, composers, and visual artists to develop new works. Individuals apply through a competitive review process, and we award over 200 residencies annually, making Ragdale one of the largest interdisciplinary residency programs in the United States. Each year we awards a series of Fellowships to artists of exceptional ability, underscoring a commitment to social equity, environmental stewardship, and access to artists with disabilities and our residents represent a cross-section of backgrounds and experiences, creating a diverse and vibrant community. Ragdale also provides ways for people from broad backgrounds to participate in themed residencies, creative sabbaticals, outreach programs for teens, and public programs that connect Ragdale with the broader community.  

Ragdale also has a deep commitment to historic preservation and environmental stewardship. Our campus is a stunning example of Arts and Crafts Architecture with multiple buildings listed on the National Register. Comprising a series of historic homes, purpose-built studios, and access to the 30-acre Shaw prairie, Ragdale provides artists with a remarkable environment to explore their work.

Since our founding as a not-for-profit in 1976, Ragdale has served nearly 6,000 alumni from across the country and around the world.