Themed Group Residencies and Creative Sabbaticals at Ragdale
Ragdale welcomes emerging and professional artists and arts administrators to use the historic Ragdale campus by offering four-day Themed Group Residencies and Creative Sabbaticals. Participants are provided with the time and space to work on projects in an idyllic retreat setting. Individuals are provided private live/work spaces to fit a variety of needs, including accessible rooms, dance and music studios, and more. In addition, they will have access to Ragdale’s common spaces and peaceful grounds and gardens. Themed Group Residencies and Creative Sabbaticals are scheduled outside of Ragdale’s juried residency sessions, and are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Themed Group Residencies
A Themed Group Residency offers groups of emerging to established artists, as well as arts administrators and advocates up to 15 sleeping rooms at the historic Ragdale campus. A Themed Group Residency offers groups a collaborative space to gather, create, share, and hold meetings or conferences. Themed Group Residencies may be booked for 4-day and 3-night sessions, based on availability.
Examples of Themed Group Residency groups include members of dance, theater, and performance companies; writing groups; visual artists groups; and arts administrators. As with all residencies offered, Ragdale encourages exploration and experimental use of time spent together in a retreat setting.
Creative Sabbaticals
Creative Sabbaticals are designed for individual artists, curators, designers, arts administrators, and others in the creative field. These stays allow artists to engage in projects that would benefit from the unique setting and facilities Ragdale offers. Creative Sabbaticals are scheduled based on availability within dates listed below. All Creative Sabbaticals are scheduled for 4 days and 3 nights.
All spaces for Themed Group Residencies and Creative Sabbaticals are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
We do not currently have any spots open for Creative Sabbaticals or Themed Residencies in 2025. 2026 dates will be announced later this year.
Amenities
Participants are provided with private accommodations and access to a variety of workspaces ranging from writing rooms and visual art studios to the Sybil Shearer Dance studio and our state-of-the-art music studio, depending on need. Many of our spaces are accessible and individuals have access to shared communal spaces across campus and the surrounding gardens and adjoining Shaw Prairie.
Dinners are provided each of the 3 nights in residence. They will be prepared by a professional chef and served in a communal setting with other participants. A variety of dietary restrictions can be accommodated. In addition, some basic food supplies are provided and made available for self-service meals outside of dinner. Artists are assigned a studio, writing room, or separate live/work space depending on needs. Access to some AV/Sound equipment, digital equipment, and shared spaces can be made available to participants depending on availability.
Rates & Dates
Themed Group Residencies allow for groups of up to 15 (based on availability) to stay at Ragdale as a cohort, while Creative Sabbaticals are designed for individuals. Spaces are limited and will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Spaces are offered for the full duration of each session at a rate of $750 per person and include housing, three group dinners and some basic food supplies for breakfast and lunch. Themed Group Residencies include the same amenities and can accommodate a maximum of 15 people at a rate of $750 per day, per person for a total of $11,250. The arrival time is as early as 10:00 am on arrival day, and the departure time is no later than 5 pm on the final day of your stay.
2025 Creative Sabbatical and Themed Residency Dates
We do not currently have any open spaces for Creative Sabbaticals or Themed Residencies in 2025.
Session A: January 8-11 (Wednesday through Saturday)
Session B: January 14-17 (Tuesday through Friday)
Session C: February 18-21 (Tuesday through Friday) AT CAPACITY
session D: September 2-5 (Tuesday through Friday) AT CAPACITY
2026 Creative Sabbatical and Themed Residency Dates
2026 dates will be announced later this year
