Visiting Artists and Academics

  • Author:
    n/a
  • Send To:
    UK Parliament
  • Sponsored By:
    Manifesto Club
  • More Info at:
Are you the Author?
The UK Home Office has introduced new bureaucratic procedures for organisations that wish to invite non-EU artists and academics to the UK. As professionals committed to the principles of internationalism and cultural exchange, we are dismayed by these new regulations - which will curb our invitations to non-EU artists and academics to visit the UK for talks, artist residencies, conferences and temporary exhibitions.

The system is costly to both the host organisation and to the visitor, and has already meant a number of cancelled exhibitions and concerts. All non-EU visitors now must apply for a visa in person, and supply biometric data, electronic fingerprint scans and a digital photograph. The Home Offices 158-page guideline document also outlines new controls over visitors day-to-day activity: visitors must show that they have at least 800 pounds of personal savings, which have been held for at least three months prior to the date of their application; the host organisation must keep copies of the visitors passport and their UK Biometric Card, and a history of their contact details; and if the visitor does not turn up to their studio or place of work, or their whereabouts is unknown, the organisation is legally obliged to inform the UK Border Agency.

We, the undersigned, believe that these Home Office restrictions discriminate against our overseas colleagues on the grounds of their nationality and financial resources, and will be particularly detrimental to artists from developing countries, and those with low income. Such restrictions will damage the vital contribution made by global artists and scholars to cultural, intellectual and civic life in the UK.

10832 Signatures

  • ronald g
    • Comments
    • yet more restrictions!
  • Allan T
    • Title/position
    • Photographer
  • Marcela M
    • Title/position
    • Miss
    • Comments
    • the home office regulations make nonsense and are gettin worse than the US
  • tony w
    • Title/position
    • writer
    • Comments
    • В
  • Sarah D
  • Aaron B
    • Title/position
    • В
    • Comments
    • В
  • Jane B
  • richard S
  • ruth b
    • Title/position
    • artist
  • Carlos Z
    • Title/position
    • director
  • Erin B
    • Title/position
    • В
    • Comments
    • В
  • katharine f
    • Title/position
    • CEO Hangar Arts Trust
    • Comments
    • Our work and the sustainability of our social enterprise is based on apprenticeship schemes and exchange schemes
  • Kathleen M
  • Leon Y
    • Title/position
    • Filmmaker, designer
  • Chembifon M
    • Title/position
    • Music producer
    • Comments
    • I give my 100\% support to the petition cause
  • Bruce A
    • Title/position
    • artist
    • Comments
    • I often work inpartnership with artists from abroad both in the UK and elsewhere. I am writing from Guwahati in Assam, India, before taking part in a symposium Two Rivers to explore potential collaborative partnerships between the Thames and Brahmaputra regions.The home office constraints can only damage such collaboration and are detrimental to what very many people are working towards.
  • carolyn b
    • Title/position
    • ms
    • Comments
    • cultural exchange is a human right
  • anna c
    • Title/position
    • curator
  • Isabel G
  • Duncan M
    • Title/position
    • Dr
  • Dina M
    • Title/position
    • sculptress
  • Welcome to Dick C
    • Title/position
    • President
    • Comments
    • HELLO
  • Mamuka J
    • Title/position
    • Artist
  • Stephanie B
    • Title/position
    • Independant curator
  • Amanda W
  • Barney Hare D
    • Title/position
    • Partner: A Fine Line
  • Jeremy F
    • Title/position
    • Artist manager
    • Comments
    • This is a draconian measure and is unnecessary
  • Beata F
    • Title/position
    • artist
  • Rosa L
  • Stephen W
  • francis s
    • Title/position
    • artist
  • Jaimini P
    • Title/position
    • Artist
  • Tim C
    • Title/position
    • Lord
  • Hayley P
  • Kate H
    • Title/position
    • Development Officer / Access Manager
  • Ellie R
    • Title/position
    • Artist/Lecturer
  • Jessica V
    • Title/position
    • Artist/Art Lecturer
  • Keith S
    • Title/position
    • Arts Manager
  • Devi C
    • Comments
    • This is appalling!
  • Tim H
    • Title/position
    • Assistant Officer, Arts Council, Visual Arts
  • Ben S
    • Title/position
    • VAGA Scotland
  • Kuljit C
  • Melissa C
  • ben r
    • Title/position
    • Dean Brown Mountain College
  • Deborah C
    • Title/position
    • В
    • Comments
    • В
  • Brad D
    • Title/position
    • В
    • Comments
    • В
  • Samantha W
    • Title/position
    • Art Consultant
  • Annie T
  • Alex J
    • Title/position
    • MS
    • Comments
    • This legislation does not protect EU artists and academics it shackles them by inviting reciprocal restrictions and crippling a vital creative exchange.
  • David K