RESIDENT HANDBOOK
Table of Contents We hope you have a wonderful stay. The following information has been compiled to help you settle in and make your residency as productive and conducive to your creative process as possible. We would appreciate you reading through the guidelines prior to your residency.
WELCOME............................................p. 4-5 FAQ.......................................................p. 6-7 OFFICE & STAFF........................................p.8 Printing Invoices/Payments Shipping DIRECTIONS TO RAGDALE.......................p. 9 Airplane CTA/Public Transportation Train (Metra Rail) Parking TRANSPORTATION..............................p. 10-11 Rental Cars Taxis/Ride-Sharing Train (Metra Trail) ROOMS...............................................p. 12-13 Live/Work Spaces & Studios Shared Spaces Fireplaces Laundry Library Heating & Cooling Maintenance
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FOOD & KITCHENS..............................p. 14 Dinner Recycling Coffee Machines Newspapers & Magazines GUESTS & VISITORS............................p. 15 Collaborators & Guests Visitors Spouses, Children, & Pets READINGS & OPEN STUDIOS...............p. 15 PRAIRIE................................................p. 15 FITNESS & RECREATION..................p. 16-17 Gym Facilities Bicycles Yoga Lakefront & Beach Parking EMERGENCIES & CONFLICTS...............p. 17 Your Health Fire Alarms Disorderly Conduct Resident Conflicts RESIDENCY POLICIES & DEPARTURE CHECKLIST......................................p. 18-19
Staff OFFICE: 847-234-1063 1260 GREEN BAY RD JEFF MEEUWSEN EXT: 22 Executive Director jeff@ragdale.org
MARITA SEABERG EXT: 21 Executive Assistant marita@ragdale.org
CYNTHIA QUICK EXT: 25 Director of External Relations cynthia@ragdale.org
AMY SINCLAIR EXT: 28 Grants & Admissions Manager amy@ragdale.org
EXT: 27 SHAWN WARD Finance Manager shawn@ragdale.org
REGIN IGLORIA EXT: 26 Ragdale in Schools Manager regin@ragdale.org
LAURA KRAMER EXT: 24 Donor Relations Manager laura@ragdale.org
LINDA WILLIAMS Chef linda@ragdale.org
EXT: 23 JACK DANCH Director of Property jack@ragdale.org
MARTHA QUINTANILLA Housekeeping Assistant martha@ragdale.org
DAVID RODRIGUEZ Maintenance Assistant david@ragdale.org
STEPHANIE KASHETA Resident Liaison stephaniepkutner@gmail.com
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MISSION STATEMENT
“To embolden creative exploration and achievement.” We give courage to and provide a setting for creative exploration and achievement by establishing a culture of excellence, generosity, and inclusivity within Ragdale’s historic campus and native prairie landscape—the essential qualities of our community’s 120-year legacy as a generative home of artistic production. Through residencies, fellowships, and thematic collaborations, Ragdale annually supports more than 200 artists, designers, and scholars from around the world, all of whom are seeking time and space to pursue distinctive works of the imagination. Ragdale’s commitment to cultural equity and community engagement underpins dozens of public projects each year, led by the Ragdale in Schools program. Our educational outreach empowers creative youth and their teachers with uncommon opportunities for live discourse, hands-on investigation, and mentoring, with artists who are actively defining and shaping creative culture.
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CURATORIAL STATEMENT Ragdale’s Curatorial Board plays a key role in jurying residency applications, nominating fellowship recipients, identifying timely programmatic themes, and guiding the scholarly discourse that shapes Ragdale’s activities, partnerships, and community services. The Curatorial Board includes more than 25 prominent arts, culture, and education leaders who share with Ragdale their expertise as well as their expansive professional networks. As the Curatorial Board joins us in nominating and selecting each season’s residents and fellows from a diverse and enormously qualified pool of applicants, we collectively strive, above all, for excellence. We identify excellence through the quality of an artist’s work; its impact or potential impact; and its capacity to broaden the reach, scope, and voice of the arts. We prize diversity in all its forms and seek artists who we believe demonstrate the potential to affect a positive, profound, and lasting impact on the Ragdale community at large, both during and after their stay. We also consider the artist’s need for and likelihood to make best use of a residency, and we value an undersupported but essential emerging voice as highly as we do a well-established career. In selecting Ragdale in Schools fellows, we seek artists who are additionally committed to using their art form to establish and support extended learning opportunities.
Welcome to ragdale To Our Residents: Ragdale has been the home of artistic creation for over 120 years. Ragdale is located on the former estate of architect Howard Van Doren Shawn, built in 1897. It was designed and built for his artistic family of sculptors, playwrights, painters, writers, poets, designers and more... Ragdale continues to serve a growing community of artists. All of us at Ragdale are honored to welcome you to this exceptional and supportive community of artists. Your project was among a remarkable and diverse group of submissions selected to receive the gift of time and space at Ragdale. We are thrilled to support your project and look forward to following your progress. We trust that you will use this opportunity to do what you need to do to take the next creative leap. We understand that this time is precious. Our expectation is for accountability: To yourself... only you know what you need at this moment in your creative process. Trust it. To your fellow residents...respect each others time, space, and quiet; they will do the same. To the Ragdale staff ... know that the Ragdale Staff is here to help make your stay pleasant and productive. Let us know if there is something you need, or any questions you may have. If there is anything “not quite right” we want to know. Otherwise, we will stay out of your way to do the important work you came here to do. 5
Resident FAQ Get to Ragdale 1230 N. Green Bay Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045 Fly: O’Hare is recommended over Midway airport. Drive: Taxi/ Ride-Sharing: American Taxi (847.509.7900), 303 Taxi (847.454.4697), LF Taxi (847.505.0301) recommended. Lyft and Uber are available in our area. Train: Union-Pacific North line to/from downtown Chicago and downtown Lake Forest. What to Bring Bring: weather appropriate clothing, shoes appropriate for walking in the prairie, toiletries. Please don’t bring: candles or incense, electric tea kettles, or space heaters. Ragdale provides: linens and towels, laundry machines and detergent, flashlights, first aid kit, bar soap, toilet paper, lightbulbs, yoga mats, and a limited number of bicycles, locks, and helmets. Connect to WiFi Ragdale House Barnhouse Conference Room Friends Studio
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Settle In Basic food supplies are available in both kitchens, open 24/7. Dinner is served weekdays at 6:30 pm. Print: stations are available in the Barnhouse & Ragdale House 24/7. Do laundry: laundry after 4pm on weekdays, any time on weekends. Cozy up: please use fireplaces located on the first floor. Fireplaces in resident rooms do not function. Go to Town Downtown Lake Forest: grocery stores, pharmacies, post office, cafes, and restaurants. Lake Forest Library: 360 E. Deerpath Rd. Tell a librarian you are a resident at Ragdale and they will provide a temporary card. Metra Train Station: on Western between Deerpath and Westminster. Thrift shops: resident favorites include Forest & Found and Lake Forest Resale Shop. Go Outside Garden: explore the flower and vegetable gardens. Ask Chef Linda what is available to pick and eat. Walk the Prairie: stick to the paths of the 50 acres of prairie, and please don’t pick the plants. Be mindful of happy dogs off their leash. Wear long sleeves and closed footwear. Check yourself for ticks when you return. Exercise At the gym: Lake Forest College Sports and Recreation Center - Maplewood and Sheridan. Find free passes in the Barnhouse kitchen. Ride a bike: equipment located in the Ragdale House basement. Please ride on the sidewalk! At the lake: passes to park at the Lake Forest lakefront located in the Barnhouse kitchen. Do yoga: yoga mats can be found in each room. 6
Snail Mail Incoming: 1260 N. Green Bay Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045 Please…No Smoking Smoking is not permitted at Ragdale, inside or out, excepting the bench by the parking lot. Your Health Hospital: Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital CVS Minute Clinic Urgent Care: Lake Forest Acute Care
660 N. Westmoreland Rd 520 N. Western Avenue 1025 W. Everett Rd #101
847.234.5600 847.810.5991 847.234.7950
Share Your Work You may choose to share your work with your fellow residents, and attend their open studios and readings. Typically, this is organized by your fellow residents, are short and sweet, and take place during the final week of your stay. The staff enjoys attending, so please let us know! Keep in Touch Facebook: /Ragdale Foundation & join our alumni FB group: “Ragdale Artists” Instagram: @ragdalefoundation Twitter: @Ragdale
Code of Conduct Ragdale works thoughtfully to provide residents an atmosphere that emboldens creative exploration and achievement. This is only possible when the culture is supportive, generous, and inclusive. These are the essential qualities of our 120-year legacy as a generative home of artistic production. We expect that in turn, all residents agree to respect residents, staff, grounds, buildings, prairie, Lake Forest, and surrounding communities. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to staff if a conflict arises or if you experience difficulties with another member of the community. Ragdale grows with the evolving needs of artists. Please refer to our Equity and Inclusion statement.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: DIAL 911 for Police and Fire. In case of a fire, please meet at the Lambs sculpture in front of the Ragdale House. Contact Contact (123) 456-7890 Contact Contact (123) 456-7890 Contact Contact (123) 456-7890 Contact Contact (123) 456-7890 Contact Contact (123) 456-7890 7
OFFICE & STAFF
Our administrative office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. During the week, you will find our office a hub of activity. If you have questions, feel free to stop in. Printing The office has a color printer/photocopier that can print letter (8.5” x 11”) and tabloid (11” x 17”) (black & white: $0.10 per page, color: $0.25 per page). You can print from your device by connecting wirelessly to the printer. You may also bring your file on a flash-drive or email to a staff member for printing. Please keep a personal tab on the amount of prints made and pay before departing from Ragdale. Invoices/ Payments An invoice with your residency fee balance will be emailed to you approximately two months before your residency arrival with a link to make a payment. Residency fees are due 45 days before your arrival date. You may check your residency fee balance, make a payment, or set up a payment plan with the Office Manager. Shipping Please address all mail to 1260 N. Green Bay Rd. Lake Forest, IL 60045 We recommend you use either FedEx or UPS for your shipping needs; shipping labels can be printed easily through the FedEx or UPS website and packages left for pickup outside the Barnhouse conference room. FedEx can be reached at www.fedex.com or by dialing 800.238.5355; UPS at www.ups.com or by dialing 800.742.5877. Both UPS and FedEx can be shipped from downtown Lake Forest via the UPS Store at 276 E. Deerpath Rd. or Lake Forest Pack & Ship at 736 N. Western Ave. Packages can also be shipped through the office via USPS; please see the Office Manager for details. Note that the following information is needed when you place your shipping request online or through the office: • The height, length, and width of each package • The weight of each package. There is a scale next to the residents’ mailboxes in the Barnhouse. • Zip codes of the cities you are shipping to and from.
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DIRECTIONS TO RAGDALE
Ragdale is located in Lake Forest, IL, just thirty miles north of Chicago. We have two addresses: the original Ragdale House is 1230 N. Green Bay Road and the Barnhouse, which includes the Administrative Offices, is 1260 N. Green Bay Road. All mail and correspondences should be sent to the 1260 N. Green Bay Road address. Airplane We recommend flying into O’Hare International Airport which is closer than Midway. Taxis and Ride Shares available in our area (please see Transportation section on page 10) shuttle directly to Ragdale from either airport. They will pick you up from the airport and should drop you off at 1260 N Green Bay Rd. Lake Forest, IL 60045. CTA/Public Transportation (to downtown Chicago) Both airports are accessible to and from downtown Chicago through public transportation using the Blue line from O’Hare or the Orange line from Midway. Take either train to the Clark St. station to transfer to the suburban commuter rail system. Unfortunately, the Metra Rail line that goes to Lake Forest is not connected, and you will have to walk 15 minutes or take a cab to the Ogilvie Transportation Center to transfer to the Metra Rail. Train (Metra Rail) Lake Forest may be reached via Metra Rail, an hour commute to and from downtown Chicago. Schedules are posted online at: metrarail.com. Take the Union Pacific North Line (UP-N) train from Ogilvie Transportation Center, located at Madison St. & Canal St. in downtown Chicago, north towards Kenosha. The Lake Forest stop is about a 20 minute walk from Ragdale. Please see Transportation on page 10 for more information. **Please note that there are two Lake Forest stations. The one closer to Ragdale is the station on the Union Pacific North Line** Parking When you enter Ragdale’s driveway 1230 N. Green Bay Rd., make an immediate left at the first fork into the parking lot. This is the only area you may keep your car parked. You may unload luggage within the driveway circles in the front of the Ragdale house (1230) or the Barnhouse (1260) but your car should be moved to the lot to allow utility and service vehicles a thruway.
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TRANSPORTATION
Taxis/Ride Sharing American Taxi and ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft are good options for Chicago and suburbs; Uber and Lyft require that you download their App on your smartphone; you can schedule a ride in advance or request a ride immediately. All other taxi services listed below are only for trips to and from the airport and Chicago. For local trips, you may want to arrange with fellow residents or other staff; it is suggested that you consolidate trips with other residents whenever possible. Ragdale does not have a vehicle other than for emergency situations. The following is a list of taxi companies recommended to Ragdale residents: American Taxi Dispatch Serves the Chicago Suburbs. Reliable and professional service with flat rates to and from O’Hare and Midway airports. 847.509.7900 303 Taxi (Babar) This 303 taxi is run by a trusted local cab driver, Babar Hasim, who provides other driving services for Ragdale events. He is endorsed by Ragdale and usually arrives 15 minutes prior to scheduled pick-up. Please call 847.454.4697 at least 24 hours in advance. Lake Forest Taxi Inc. Lake Forest Taxi provides quality, professional, and affordable transfer services to and from O’Hare Airport from the northern suburbs. Call 847.505.0301 or complete a request order online at lftaxi.com. Upon completion of your online order, a text message confirmation will be sent to your mobile phone with taxi number and estimated arrival time. Rental Cars While at Ragdale you may wish to rent a car. The closest car rental is Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which is located about 15 minutes north of Ragdale. Enterprise Rent-A-Car 2900 U.S. Route 41, Suite C North Chicago, IL 60046 847.473.5290 / www.enterprise.com Train (Metra Rail) The Metra Train Station is about one mile east of Ragdale on Western Avenue in Lake Forest. It is a 15- to 20-minute walk in good weather. The Metra is a commuter train providing inexpensive transportation in the surrounding area and downtown Chicago. Fares vary depending on destination and weekend passes are available at the Lake Forest train station. Please note that there are two Metra trains to Lake Forest from downtown Chicago. The closer, more convenient Lake Forest stop is on the UP-N Line. For additional detailed information, including updated schedules and fares, please visit the Metra website at www.metrarail.com.
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ROOMS Live/Work Spaces and Studios Room and studio assignments are assigned based on residents’ disciplines and the type of work they will be doing. Residents are not allowed to request specific rooms at the time of their acceptance, and only under specific circumstances would room changes during a residency be considered. The staff has limited time and resources during changeover. In cases when room changes need to be done per request of the resident, a $50 changeover fee will be charged. All living quarters are full of unique quirks. Feel free to move the items in your room to suit your own tastes; before you depart, however, please make sure to put everything back in its original place. Some rooms and studios have unique characteristics that require special attention or restrictions. Be sure to heed any of these signs or notices in your assigned space. Please do not use tacks, pushpins, or tape on the walls and wallpaper to put up sheets of paper or hang objects. The only exception is the artists’ studios, which are regularly patched and painted for artwork. The light switches in the bathrooms of the Ragdale House are directly connected to the ventilation fans and turn on at the same time. Make sure the vents are on when showering, as steam may trigger the sensitive fire alarm system. Please turn off all lights and appliances when you are not in your room for extended periods of time; air conditioners should be turned off when you are not in your room, except during days of excessive heat and then we request that you leave it on low. Please close all doors carefully and quietly. Keep your voices to a whisper when close to the bedrooms of other residents and maintain a private conversation level in all other areas. Rooms and studios may be locked from the inside without a key. If you are concerned about the security of your belongings, arrangements can be made with staff to keep your space secure. Shared Spaces The first floor of both the Barnhouse and Ragdale House is shared, communal living space. Residents have 24-hour access to these spaces and should feel free to lounge on the sofas, have a conversation with other residents, gather with guests, read, or work. Keep in mind these are open spaces where the staff often hosts meetings during the day. Priority is given to staff during work hours in the conference room, so please check in with the front desk, the Resident Liaison, or the Director of Residencies and Fellowships for permission to use the space for special projects. Fireplaces Working fireplaces are located in the Barnhouse and the Ragdale House living rooms. Do not attempt to operate other fireplaces in any of the bedrooms (Alice’s Study and Sarah’s Room), the conference room, or the dining room of the Ragdale House. Use only the firewood and kindling provided in the baskets next to each fireplace. Most importantly, open the flue before lighting the fire and close it after the fire has burnt out and is no longer smoking. Laundry Both the Ragdale House and the Barnhouse have laundry facilities. In the Ragdale House please use only the taller, larger machines. On Wednesday or Thursday of every week you will receive clean sheets and towels. Feel free to use both laundry facilities to do your own laundry after office hours, 4p.m. to 7a.m. Monday through Friday, and weekends. Housekeeping staff has priority use of the machines. You may 12 purchase your own laundry soap and softener or use those provided by Ragdale.
Library Ragdale has a large selection of books within each living area as well as in the Barnhouse library. Feel free to enjoy the books, but please return them to their proper places before your departure. Books labeled with a sticker on the cover, “Please Return to the Barnhouse Library,� belong on those stacks, while nonlabeled books stay in the rooms. If you wish to borrow a book from the Barnhouse Library, take a cardstock bookmark located in a container on the bench by the bookshelf, fill out the card, and place it in the space from which your selection was taken. Return the book to the same place and remove the slip. If you wish to donate one of your published works, please inscribe it to Ragdale and leave a copy at the front desk. We will proudly catalogue and display it promptly. Heating & Cooling current temperature current temperature indicates heat indicates heat or a/c mode or a/c mode
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The rooms in the Ragdale House have a thermostat to control the room temperature. If you are unsure of ess button to set the desired temperature. how to adjust temperatures see THERMOSTAT. In the Barnhouse there are two thermostats found on the first floor thatin HEAT control airtheunit; residents seek staff to adjust these thermostats. Air conditioner ase cool air (or reduce hot air flow when mode) the presscentral button until desired temperature must is displayed. window units are installed in the Friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Studio and Barnhouse bedrooms. ess button to set the desired temperature. Maintenance While we try to keep the atmosphere at Ragdale conducive to creative work, we must acknowledge that the grounds are a historic and public space. You may encounter groups of non-residents using the facilities for tours, classes, meetings, and workshops. Additionally, because of the age and historic landmark status of Ragdale, repairs are frequent. While we attempt to schedule noisy repairs when residents are not here, the scheduling of such repair work is mostly out of our hands. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Smoking is not permitted on the property, excepting the bench by the parking lot.
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FOOD & KITCHENS
Residents have access to wholesome, simple, three square meals per day during their stay. Residents have 24-hour access to two kitchens: one in the Ragdale House and the other in the Barnhouse. Both have refrigerators and cabinets stocked with basic food supplies, dishware, and cookware for informal meal preparation, breakfast and lunch. Specialty items, including particular brands and diet-specific needs, may not be requested for budgetary reasons. Residents can bring their own specialty items and store them in the shared refrigerators within reasonable space limitations. Food items should be clearly labeled. In the Barnhouse kitchen, a separate, professional kitchen area is used by Ragdale’s chef to prepare dinners and is off limits to residents. The kitchen in the Ragdale House is larger and ideally suited to group dinner preparation on weekends. Please adhere to these guidelines to ensure a proper work environment for our chef. Dinner Dinner is served buffet-style promptly at 6:30 p.m. in the Barnhouse dining room Monday through Friday. If you choose not to attend dinner, please notify the chef by signing your name on the Dinner SignOut Sheet located in the Barnhouse kitchen. With notice, a plate may be set-aside for individual residents who will not be at dinner that evening. Our chef will explain the meal options before each dinner. Generally, all dishes are vegetarian with meat served on the side. Please be sure you have turned in your dietary needs sheet in advance of your arrival. Also, check in with the chef on the day you arrive to make sure the information is accurate, especially regarding food allergies. The most important rule in a shared communal space is to clean up after oneself. Except for pots, pans, sharp knives, water pitchers, and cutting boards, everything must go into the dishwasher, as directed by our local Health Department. Recycling Each of the Ragdale buildings contains centralized recycling bins labeled “Recyclables Only.” These are located in the kitchen of the Barnhouse, in the stairway to the basement in the Ragdale house, and in the common lobby of the Friends’ Studio. Recycling does not need to be sorted. A list of recyclable items is located near each recycling bin. Coffee Machines The coffee machine has special heat pads to keep coffee warm after brewing. Please do not keep the heating switches on for a prolonged amount of time as the coffee will burn and set off the fire alarm. The coffee machines should remain plugged in and stay on. A designated carafe should always be present underneath the dripping spout. Newspapers and Magazines At the kitchen table of the Barnhouse, residents will find a daily copy of The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune. All reading materials should stay at the kitchen table. Please do not take daily newspapers to rooms or studios; older issues go into the basket next to the table until they are ready to be placed in the recycling bin. 14
GUESTS & VISITORS
Collaborators and Guests Feel free to invite guests to visit quietly in the common areas of Ragdale. However, to maintain a distraction-free environment, we do not allow visitors in bedrooms or at our communal meals. Guests of artists who will be collaborating with residents should check in with the office staff upon arrival; collaboration is limited to three working days. Please inform the Director of Residencies and Fellowships about collaborators well in advance of arrival. Visitors All visitors are required to check in with the office before visiting the premises. Should you encounter individuals who are not fellow residents, staff, board members, or other authorized individuals, the Resident Liaison or other staff should be informed of their presence. In cases where the Resident Liaison is not present and safety becomes a concern, please contact a staff person on your emergency contact information sheet. In most cases, unauthorized visitors who tour the campus are alumni or have a past connection with Ragdale and are not aware of resident privacy policies. In such cases, feel free to direct them to the office where they may check in with staff. Spouses, Children, and Pets Ragdale cannot accommodate spouses or children. Pets are not allowed in Ragdale buildings. Service/ guide dogs are the only exception to this rule.
READINGS & OPEN STUDIOS
Readings and open studios are completely optional during your residency. Many residents find these opportunities extremely stimulating and schedule gatherings themselves. Typically, each presentation is 5-7 minutes in length and held after dinner. The Ragdale staff, however, also loves to see or hear your work. If you would like to share your work with the staff during office hours, please inform the Resident Liaison or the Director of Residencies and Fellowships.
PRAIRIE
Ragdale is located adjacent to 50 acres of open prairie that is maintained by Lake Forest Open Lands. Residents may walk along the prairie paths but must keep in mind the following regulations: • Stay on paths at all times. • Do not wade into the ponds; it can be unsafe and cause environmental damage to the environment. • Please do NOT pick any plants or flowers from the prairie. In special circumstances, permission may be obtained from Lake Forest Open Lands to use the natural materials found in the prairie reserve. For additional information on contacting the appropriate Open Lands staff, see the Director of Residencies and Fellowships. • Be aware that members of the community do walk their dogs on the trails. While most owners leash their dogs, extra care should be taken when encountering an unleashed dog. • To avoid ticks, walk in the center of the trails to prevent plants brushing against you, wear long sleeves and walking shoes with socks; check yourself for ticks when you return. • Please note that there is a lane (known as the “cow path”) on the north side of the Ragdale property, near the Barnhouse. This, along with the replica Lincoln log cabin, is part of our neighbor’s property and should not be occupied by residents. 15
FITNESS & RECREATION
Please refer to the Local Recreation and Fitness Center Information binder found in the kitchen of both the Ragdale House and the Barnhouse for current fitness facility information. Lake Forest College We have formed a special relationship with Lake Forest College for residents who would like to maintain their daily exercise program. Residents have access free of charge to the college Sports & Recreation Center that features a swimming pool, workout equipment and indoor track. It is advised to call ahead (847.234.3100), as their hours change often depending on the time of the year. The facility is approximately two miles from Ragdale. Fitness Center ID cards are located on the bulletin board; for your first visit, please fill out a copy of the Agreement and Release Liability form in the Recreational Information binder and present to gym staff, who will keep it on file during your stay. Directions: At our entrance/exit driveway, turn right on Green Bay Road and head south. The first stoplight is Deerpath Road. Turn left on Deerpath and head east. Turn right on Sheridan Road, where the college campus begins. Make another right on Maple Road and head west. The facility is located about a quarter of a block west on the left. Parking is free in the lot. Lake Forest Recreation Center The Lake Forest Recreation Center sells passes for $12/day or $60/month (rates may have changed since the last printing of this handbook). The recreation center does not have a pool. However, it does have state-of-the-art fitness equipment, including an array of weight-lifting machines and a range of instructor led classes. This facility can be reached by dialing 847.615.3187. Directions: At our entrance turn right on Green Bay Road and head south. The first stoplight is Deerpath Road. Turn right on Deerpath and head west. The next stoplight is Hastings Road. Turn left on Hastings. Turn left into the recreation center. It is located just behind Deerpath Middle School. Bicycles Several bicycles have been donated to the Ragdale Foundation and are available for your use. They are located in the basement of the Ragdale House. Please follow these simple guidelines to make your bicycle riding experience a pleasant one: • Check the brakes, chain, and tires before leaving. There are pumps in the bike room if the tires need air. • Use the provided bike cables to lock the bikes when they are unattended at your destination. The combination is the same as our address (1260). Some locks have four-digit codes with no “0”. For these locks, please use the dash at the end of the code (126-). • Do not leave bikes parked on Ragdale grounds longer than ten minutes. • Use the marked door in the basement to bring bikes out or in. Do not use the Ragdale House stairs. • Helmets are available and encouraged to be worn. We hope you have a wonderful time exploring the City of Lake Forest and surrounding area. When cycling in town, please note the signs regarding appropriate bicycle riding rules and regulations, which include the prohibition of riding bikes on sidewalks in the main business district around Market Square. However, due to high traffic, certain stretches of Green Bay Road and Deerpath have signs encouraging cyclists to ride on the sidewalk. 16
Yoga Ragdale provides a few yoga/exercise mats for use by residents. These can be found in each room. Please spray your mats after each use with the cleaner provided and return them to your room. Lakefront & Beach Parking The Lake Forest Beach is located about 2 miles east of Ragdale at the end of Deerpath Road. If you are driving, please sign-out a parking pass from the bulletin board in the Barnhouse kitchen before you leave and follow the display instructions on the pass. If the display instructions are not followed exactly, you WILL receive a ticket. The Lake Forest Police Department is very strict regarding this policy. Beach passes cost Ragdale $75 to replace.
EMERGENCIES & CONFLICTS Your Health Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital CVS Minute Clinic Lake Forest Acute Care
660 N Westmoreland Rd 520 North Western Avenue 1025 W Everett Rd #101
847.234.5600 847.810.5991 847.234.7950
Fire Alarms There is a fire alarm system built into the Ragdale House, the Barnhouse, and the Friends’ Studio. Please heed the sirens and blinking lights as indication to vacate your room; it is mandatory to meet at the front circle of the Ragdale House (near the lambs sculpture) until the Fire Department has arrived and deemed it safe to return to the rooms. Staff, when present, will direct the residents. Disorderly Conduct We understand that the following statement generally goes without saying, but we wish to be clear in our policy: “Drugs, theft, sexual overture or harassment and behavior that highly disturb or endanger other residents, staff or guests will not be tolerated and will result in your immediate expulsion from Ragdale.” Resident Conflict In rare instances a problem between residents may arise. In such a situation, it is our strong preference that you deal with the issue directly and respectfully as intelligent adults. If resolution is not possible using this method, feel free to speak to the Director of Residencies and Fellowships or any member of our staff for some conflict resolution suggestions. If this secondary alternative also fails to resolve the problem, the staff is available to mediate a conflict or to speak to a resident who is not following the guidelines, policies, or procedures outlined in this handbook. Please remember: our staff is available to help you, so do not hesitate to speak to us. We wish to help you achieve an environment conducive to your success.
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RESIDENCY POLICIES
Deposit A $100 non-refundable residency deposit secures placement in the residency program for the dates stated in your acceptance letter. The remaining balance is due 45 days before your arrival date. You will receive an email with instructions for paying your balance. To arrange a payment plan for your balance, please contact info@ragdale.org or call 847.234.1063 Fellowship recipients are not required to submit a deposit. Scheduling Policy Residents should schedule their residency for the full 18- or 25-day session. Late arrivals and/or early departures, as well as leaving campus during a residency for more than a day is discouraged but allowed. Residents should notify Ragdale staff in advance of any adjustments they will need to make to their residency dates. Ragdale’s policy is that residents will cover the cost of the full session regardless of how many days of the session they are in attendance. Cancellation Policy Ragdale is not able to provide refunds for any missed residency days due to illness, work, family, travel commitments, or any other reason beyond the Foundation’s control. In rare cases, a scheduled residency may be postponed to later in the year or deferred to the following year. All adjustments to the residency sessions are limited to available sessions of the residency calendar year and are made at the discretion of Ragdale staff. Rescindance Policy Ragdale is committed to emboldening creative exploration and achievement. This mission can be realized only in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect, and any actions that diminish such an atmosphere will neither be condoned nor tolerated. As such, Ragdale reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission/terminate a residency-in-progress if it is determined that an individual’s behavior does or may jeopardize the quality of experience for other residents, our collaborations with affiliate organizations, and/or our community relations.
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RESIDENT DEPARTURE CHECKLIST
We hate to see you go! Before you leave… Inform residency staff if you plan to depart before 10am on Friday. Please complete the exit review survey. We would love to get a sense of your residency experience and what we can improve! We truly appreciate your candid feedback. If you have outstanding printing, postage, and office supply charges, please settle in the office or online. Leave your mark in the blue books in your room for future residents and the green book for Ragdale’s community. Return all dishes and utensils to the proper kitchen. Throw out all trash in outside garbage bins. Strip the bed of linens and place on floor for housekeeping staff (towels and sheets only please!) Return any borrowed items to the office or Resident supply storage in the Friends Studio basement: beach passes, LFC gym passes, yoga mats, folding tables, etc. Leave us a copy of your book, CD, exhibition catalog, etc. We would love to add it to our growing collection of works created by Ragdale Alumni: 4,000 artists and counting! Credit Ragdale when your work goes public. This helps your fans find Ragdale. Please stay in touch. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Join the “Ragdale Artists” Facebook group exclusively for alumni. We appreciate keeping up with your exciting developments and love to share your news! Send us your news by tagging Ragdale on your posts or emailing admissions@ ragdale.org with the information that you would like to share. Ragdale awards residencies, fellowships, and financial aid regardless of an artist’s ability to pay. It costs Ragdale roughly $350 a day to host one artist. Our fundraising efforts are crucial to subsidizing much of that cost. Alumni are some of our most loyal contributors and often to choose to express their gratitude with a donation to the foundation. If you are able and so inclined to make a donation, please know we will receive it with gratitude. If you had a most terrific and productive time and would like to share the news, please consider writing a thank you note or placing a phone call to a Ragdale donor. Please be in touch with Laura Kramer if you would like to share words of gratitude. Stop by the office and say goodbye to your biggest fans, the Ragdale staff. For Visual Artists in Studios: Please use provided tools and supplies in the studio maintenance kit to return your studio walls and surfaces to a clean, usable working condition for the next artist. Patch up any holes with putty, sand down, and touch up the walls with paint. Return all borrowed tools and materials to the Friends’ Basement Studio Supply shelves.
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EQUITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT We believe: • Everyone deserves equal access to a full, vibrant creative life, which is essential to a healthy and democratic society. • Cultural equity is critical to the long-term viability of the arts sector. • Inequity and injustice occur when individuals have unequal access to resources. • We must all continually hold ourselves accountable, because acknowledging and challenging our inequities is how we can effect change. • Artists, their art, their process, and the organizations they create and support play an essential role in witnessing, demonstrating, and providing inspiration to resolve societal inequity and injustice.
We strive: • To create a culture of equity by ensuring that all people—including but not limited to those who have been historically underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship status, or religion—are represented in the development of Ragdale’s policies; its support of artists; the nurturing of accessible, thriving venues for expression; and the fair distribution of programmatic, financial, and informational resources. • To pursue cultural consciousness throughout our organization through substantive learning, transparent policies, and consistent evaluation. • To commit time and resources to expand more diverse leadership within our board, staff, and advisory bodies. • To acknowledge and dismantle inequities and barriers to entry within our policies, systems, programs, and services. • To establish and nurture programs and policies that engage the full breadth of society.
Booklet Design by Adeeba Arastu