Complete this application if you wish to be considered for a residency in 2027.  

Residency Awards, up to 140 awarded in 2026:

18-day residency session for individuals. Based on personal financial considerations, artists determine their own residency fee and may opt to pay according to our suggested sliding scale.  No financial aid application is required. Admitted residents are responsible for their own travel to and from Ragdale.  

Fellowships: Ragdale awards a limited number of fellowships each year. All qualified applicants may apply for fellowships through this application. A fellowship award includes an 18-day fee-waived residency for individuals and a stipend of at least $1000. 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 DEADLINE

11:59 PM CST May 14. Late applications cannot be accepted.     

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, disability, gender, origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

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, 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
• A works list outlining work samples
• Work samples that show work from the past 2-3 years. All media is acceptable. Most electronic file types and sizes are accepted
• 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.

TIMELINE

May 14: 2027 Residency Application Submission Deadline

September: Notifications of residency or fellowship award sent. 

October: Accepted residents' final welcome packets with session dates sent

QUESTIONS?

All inquiries should be directed to admissions@ragdale.org. Please do not reply directly to messages sent through Submittable.