Description

In honor of its fortieth anniversary in 2016, Ragdale, the artists’ residency in Lake Forest, introduces the Ragdale in Schools program.  This new initiative offers creative learning experiences for students and educators that ignite curiosity, foster critical thinking, and develop inclusive collaborative environments.   Fifteen Ragdale fellows will be featured annually in this outreach program, which serves elementary, middle, and high schools in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, North Chicago, Waukegan, Zion, and more. 
 
On Tuesday, November 3, 2015, the Hannah Judy Gretz fellow, author Jean Kwok, kicked off the Schools Program as she met with students at the Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest to discuss her work and experience becoming a writer.  Jean emigrated from Hong Kong to Brooklyn when she was five and worked in a Chinatown clothing factory for much of her childhood.  She is now New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning novels, Mambo in Chinatown and Girl in Translation, which was published in 17 countries and taught in schools throughout the world. Jean currently lives in the Netherlands and is working on her third novel while at Ragdale.
 
Another example of Ragdale’s student outreach is the annual, summer Arts Week when Ragdale hosts weeklong workshops in creative writing and visual arts for high school students from Chicago to Waukegan. Led by Ragdale fellows and master educators, the students work on campus daily and celebrate their accomplishments in a final presentation for their family and friends.   
 
Family foundations and interested community members support Ragdale fellowships for fifteen selected artists and writers each year. For 18-25 days, these acclaimed creative professionals have the opportunity to work in an historic, retreat setting on current projects at no cost, and participate in a program in the schools during or following their residency.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Ragdale in Schools program allows Ragdale to match artists, authors, composers and architects with the needs of regional classrooms. For further information on this initiative or fellowships, please contact Ragdale at 847.234.1063 or info@ragdale.org
 
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The Ragdale Foundation is a nonprofit artists’ residency located on the historic estate of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw in Lake Forest, Illinois. Ragdale hosts twelve residency sessions each year, giving artists and writers a serene and supportive environment in which to do important, creative work.