+ Submission Guidelines

All applicants submit electronic materials through the Submittable application portal. Do not email or mail any application materials. Please note the following requirements to complete your application. A completed online application form includes:

• An artist statement explaining your work, vison, and/or story (one page or less)
• A brief work plan that outlines your studio needs (one page or less)
• A one- to two-page CV or resume
• Work samples that show work from the past 2-3 years. All media is acceptable. Most electronic file types and sizes are accepted
• A separate listing of submitted work samples
• 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)
• Letters of recommendation are not required or accepted

WORK SAMPLES

Work sample requirements

Written work: 20 pages of written work (in up to eight files).

Visual work: 8 images (in up to eight files), plus an image list that includes the following information: title, year, media, dimensions, and an optional short description of each work.

Time-based work: Up to 10 minutes of audio or video per application (in up to eight files or links*), plus a works list that includes the following information: title, year, media, and an optional short description of each work. *A pdf with hyperlinks is an acceptable alternative to file uploads. Please include a password if applicable.

Please note: For proposals with more than one type of media: please be fair to reviewers and to fellow applicants; use your best judgement as to what is equivalent. For example, if you plan to submit written work and photos, you may submit 10 pages of written work and 4 photos.

+ Evaluation

Applications are reviewed by Ragdale’s Curatorial Council jury and staff. Evaluations of work are based on the following criteria:

• Work samples: Documented works are original, inventive, and exciting.
• Work samples indicate relevance in their contemporary field.
• Work sample presentation: Work samples are high-quality and technically proficient in execution, and are professionally presented and documented.
• Artist’s experience: Artist statement and CV/Resume reflects continued development of ideas, serious inquiry into subject matter, and exceptional aesthetic investigation in the chosen medium.
• Work plan: Artist demonstrates they will maximize the benefits of a residency at Ragdale. What is the reason for seeking time and space in this particular residency program and is there a sense of urgency reflected in the goals described?

+ Notification

Notifications are sent to applicants via email by September. Final packets, including scheduled session dates, are sent by October.

+ Collaborations

Artists collaborating on a project must submit individual application forms and appropriate work samples, along with a joint description of the work they intend to do at Ragdale. Clearly specify your work and living space needs, i.e., how many private studios and/or sleeping quarters are needed. You may also submit an example of a previous collaborative work (either completed or in progress). Any specific questions about collaborations can be directed to the Residency Manager before applying. Collaborators must be accepted to the residency separately in order to attend as a group.

+ Residency Awards

Ragdale awards up to 140 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

+ Application Fee

There is an application fee of $35. This amount covers the cost of application processing. Ragdale does not profit from application fees.

If you are not in a position to cover the processing fee, please reach out to admissions@ragdale.org to request a fee-waived application.

+ Residency Fee

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–$280 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 $280 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 1: Non-refundable $100 deposit due
• December - February: 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

+ Fellowship Awards

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.

A fellowship award includes:

• One 18-day fee-waived residency for individuals
• A stipend of at least $1000

We seek diverse voices and representations to enrich our artists' experiences and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. In the application, you will be asked to describe how you meet the eligibility requirements of the fellowships you are applying for (500 word maximum per fellowship category).

All applicants who apply for fellowships will be considered. Please note that applicants may be awarded a residency without a fellowship award.

Fellowship awards are disclosed upon acceptance.

+ Application Deadlines

The Submittable application portal opens in February for residencies and fellowships taking place the following year. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM CST on May 14. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application earlier than the stated deadline. Late applications will not be considered.

+ 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, ability, gender, origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

+ 2027 Residency Session Dates

All residency sessions are 18 days long

Arrival is 3-4pm on the first day of the session. Departure is 10am on the final day of the session.

Session 1: January 25 - February 12

Session 2: February 22 - March 12

Session 3: March 15 - April 2

Session 4: April 19 - May 7

Session 5: June 14 - July 2

Session 6: July 19 - August 6

Session 7: August 9 - August 27

Session 8: September 13 - October 1

Session 9: October 4 - October 22

Session 10: November 1 - November 19