Ragdale provides time and space for artists to create important new work. Offered in two- to eight-week long residencies, each session facilitates 8 writers, 3 visual artists, and 1 composer at any given time.

Residents' uninterrupted time at Ragdale is their own. Located at the historic summer home of Arts and Crafts architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, Ragdale exists in a peaceful setting adjacent to over 50 acres of prairie. Residents reside in live/work spaces in the Ragdale House, Barnhouse and Friends' studios. Located one mile from downtown Lake Forest, Ragdale is just 30 miles (only one hour by train) from downtown Chicago.

Ragdale welcomes artists at all stages of their careers and seeks to create a mix of various experience levels in each group of residents. Through a competitive application process, Ragdale offers residencies to visual artists, writers, composers, and interdisciplinary artists such as those working in sound, performance, choreography, etc.

Residency fees are $25 per day. A limited number of need-based fellowships are available to accepted applicants.