Artist-in-residence programs across the United States are facing new challenges as immigration crackdowns ripple through cultural institutions. Traditionally focused on providing housing, studio space, and creative support, residencies now confront unsettling questions: what if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrive looking for a visiting artist?

At Yaddo, a century-old artist community in Saratoga Springs, New York, executive director Elaina Richardson says the board has already discussed protocols. “We will honour a legitimate warrant, but we will not open our gates if no documentation is shown,” she explained, noting that the organization has considered what counts as “proper documentation” and how to respond if ICE agents refuse to leave.

Residencies Grapple with Fear and Uncertainty
While no raids have been reported, the fear itself has reshaped the climate. Under former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, industries from restaurants to universities faced heightened scrutiny. Now, artist residencies—spaces meant for freedom and experimentation—find themselves navigating similar uncertainty.

Paul Sacaridiz, executive director of Ragdale in Illinois, acknowledges the anxiety: “We are all living with uncertainty… the best we can do is to stay mission focused, support artists, and provide stable models of leadership.”

Artists Declining Opportunities
The fear is already deterring international participation. At the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA), six accepted artists from Canada, Europe, and India declined their invitations, citing discomfort with traveling to the US.

Yaddo has faced similar setbacks. Out of 100 invited artists last March, seven—hailing from Latin America, the Middle East, Ukraine, and Canada—either withdrew or postponed their residencies. “I’ve heard one say, ‘I don’t feel safe entering the US or about my return,’” Richardson noted, describing the atmosphere as “an arena of fear.”

As a result, US artist residencies now face not only funding challenges but also a growing reluctance from international creatives to participate—threatening their long-held mission of global cultural exchange.