Applications for Ragdale residencies are currently closed.
Ragdale Ring application for 2026 and 2027 is open through January 9, 2026.
The deadline for all 2026 residencies was May 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Late applications cannot be accepted.
Ragdale is a non-profit artists’ community located on architect Howard Van Doren Shaw’s country estate in Lake Forest, IL, 30 miles north of Chicago. In 1976, Shaw’s granddaughter, Alice Judson Hayes, transformed her family’s summer home into an artist's retreat to provide time and space for artists to create important new work.
Today, Ragdale annually hosts nearly 200 visual artists, writers, dancemakers, composers, and interdisciplinary artists at all stages of their careers for 18-day residencies, making it one of the largest interdisciplinary artist communities in the country. Ragdale offers a retreat setting where at any given time, up to a dozen creative individuals experience uninterrupted time for dedicated work, a supportive environment, family-style dinners, and dynamic artist exchanges within a backdrop of 80 acres of nature preserves.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applicants should submit project proposals through ragdale.org via the Submittable online portal no later than 11:59 p.m., Friday, January 9, 2026. Proposal review and notification will take place by February 27, 2026.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Ragdale, the nationally acclaimed artist residency program, is now accepting proposals for the 12th edition of the Ragdale Ring, a design-build competition for teams, firms, or collectives of architects and designers. This project seeks innovative, site-responsive, large-scale submissions that explore intersections of architecture, landscape, and community engagement through the construction of a temporary, outdoor pavilion to house performances, concerts, readings, educational programs, and gatherings. Through this call for proposals, Ragdale will be selecting two submissions (2026 and 2027) to receive a $20,000 production stipend as well as an 18-day residency for a team of up to ten individuals for the construction of the project in each respective year. A jury panel of architects, designers, and community members will be charged with selecting the final projects based on the innovation of proposals and the feasibility to be realized at full scale on Ragdale’s campus. Please note that installation of the projects is the responsibility of the selected teams and must be completed during the 18-day construction period. The selected projects will remain in place for the season from June through November. Proposals are encouraged by individuals of diverse backgrounds and at all stages of their careers.
Please visit Ragdale's website for complete RFP including history and examples of past winning projects.
PROJECT GUIDELINES AND CONSIDERATIONS
Complete project details, reference images, site photographs, and past winners can be found on the Ragdale website (https://www.ragdale.org/ragdale-ring-competition-1). In 2026 and 2027, the Ragdale Ring will be situated on the lawn behind Ragdale House. For full consideration, designs must accommodate a performance space of roughly 24’x24’ and meet safety requirements to withstand the effects of public use and outdoor conditions. The stage may be built or consist of existing lawn, but should suitably and safely feature and support performers from a range of disciplines (music, dance, spoken word, etc.). The proposed design should be dynamic and site responsive, and able to accommodate a variety of curated performances, community engagements and broader public use. Proposals must address specific materials being used, construction process, and how materials can be repurposed at the completion of the season. Renderings and a detailed project budget must be included as part of the overall proposal. Biographies on members of the selected team, an overview of past projects, and relevant experience related to outdoor public projects should be included in the proposal. The winning team must provide its own insurance while constructing the project at Ragdale. Proposals should also indicate the team’s availability for the installation of the project at Ragdale in the year 2026 and/or 2027.
Ragdale Ring proposal requirements
1. Cover letter detailing interest in this project.
2. Profile and qualifications of team, firm, or collective making proposal.
3. Project overview: A detailed description of the project and how it addresses this RFP.
4. Construction brief: Description of how the project will be constructed and how the work can be sustainably decommissioned through recycling, repurposing, etc.
5. Project budget and additional sources of support as needed if more than $20,000 stipend provided by Ragdale.
6. Visual support materials: 5-8 digital images that show plans, renderings, and drawings supporting the proposed project. Additionally, a 3–5-minute video can also be included.
7. Previous Work Samples – A selection of 5 digital images of past work with brief description, date and relevant information.
8. Link to relevant websites of team, firm, or collective making proposal.
9. Resume for each participating member of the team, firm, or collective making proposal.
Please note:
a. Proposals must be submitted online through Submittable. The Submittable portal will open on November 3, 2025 for submissions and will remain open through January 9, 2026.
b. A $50 non-refundable application fee is required.
c. Applicants do not need to be registered architects to submit proposals.
Submittable accepts documents (.pdf), images (.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .tif, .tiff, .bmp, .tga), audio (.mp3, .wma, .ogg, .flac), and video (.m4v, .mov, .mp4, .wmv, .flv, .asf, .mpeg, .mpg, .mkv).