Can international artists apply to US-based artist residencies?

Most do accept international applicants, but eligibility varies and the practical considerations matter. The major private US residencies — MacDowell, Yaddo, Vermont Studio Center, Headlands — accept artists from any country and have hosted international cohorts for decades. International applicants compete in the same pool as US-based artists. The complication is that several US grants and government-funded fellowships (NEA Artist Fellowships, certain state arts council grants) require US citizenship or permanent residency. These exclusions are usually stated explicitly in the eligibility section. Programs that are funded by federal arts agencies are subject to citizenship rules; programs funded privately or by foundations typically are not. The practical considerations for international applicants at US residencies include visa logistics, travel cost, and tax treatment. Residency programs that host international artists usually have institutional experience with the B-1/B-2 visitor visa (for residencies under 90 days) or the O-1 artist visa (for longer or recurring residencies). They will provide the invitation letter the consular officer wants to see. Some programs assist with the visa application; others leave that work to the artist. Travel cost is sometimes covered (DAAD-style fully funded programs) but often is not (most US residencies expect the artist to handle their own travel). Check the funding section carefully. If you need travel covered as a condition of attending, you're looking for a residency in the fully-funded tier or you're looking at additional travel grants you can stack on top of the residency. Tax treatment of any stipend depends on whether your home country has a tax treaty with the US. If you receive a stipend at a US residency, it's typically reported on a 1099 or equivalent; consult an accountant familiar with cross-border artist taxation before assuming the gross amount is what you'll spend.