Visiting Artists and Academics
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Author:
n/a -
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UK Parliament
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Sponsored By:
Manifesto Club -
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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.
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.
10831 Signatures
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Mara V
- Title/position
- art director of city of women festival
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Sonia I
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Maaike W
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DIALLO
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Kirsty S
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Paul S
- Title/position
- Artist
- Comments
- Draconian and discriminatory -especially against artists from poorer economies.
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Valerie L
- Title/position
- Independent scholar
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John G
- Title/position
- Mr.
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Lisa D
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Oliver E
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Omar K
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c k
- Comments
- We are losing out on learning about other cultures
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jocelyn h
- Title/position
- retired
- Comments
- The denial of cultural freedom shames this country
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Christopher L
- Title/position
- artists/lecturer
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Dr Gavin B
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Kara
- Comments
- I have always dreamt of living in Ireland as an author. The new points system unfortunately means that I, like my fellow South African Nikhil Singh, will not meet the necessary requirements to obtain a Visa via 'tier 1'. I have not obtained a degree either, and am rather insulted as this procedure suggests that true art, whether in writing, visual art or music, can only be 'taught', and can only be created by those who HAVE attended university. Creativity is not a taught subject, it is a passion, and should not be measured in points.
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Fiona C
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Nicola S
- Title/position
- Ms
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Garry S
- Title/position
- Head of Digital Content
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Naomi M
- Title/position
- Researcher
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Yaarl Tuule Mijnyardson H
- Title/position
- Free Frisian (-:
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Rebecca F
- Title/position
- Green Party MP candidate Streatham
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rollo m
- Title/position
- green party 4 hammersmith
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Michael E
- Title/position
- Dr, Reader in Music Technology, University of Edinburgh
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Natalie M
- Title/position
- Artist/musician
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Daniela De P
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Carol C
- Title/position
- Chief Executive, Centre for Confidence and Well-being
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Solmaz T
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Lynette F
- Title/position
- Artist
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Polly L
- Title/position
- Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Hackney South and Shoreditch
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Luc N
- Title/position
- musician - PhD Student in Art Sciences (systematic musicology)
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Heather J
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shobhitha
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S. L
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Lucia K
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Mark D
- Title/position
- Jazz fan
- Comments
- Preventing visiting musicians entering UK is bad
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Graham P
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stefan C
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Eleni V
- Title/position
- Theatre Producer
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Kathryn S
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Elly M
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Elisabeth F
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Grace S
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Mark W
- Title/position
- Chair of Reading Liberal Youth
- Comments
- В
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sarineh
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Andrew D
- Comments
- This is a step too far and will only give Uk a worse name internationally than we already have.
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skinder h
- Title/position
- Chief Executive of New Art Exchange
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Stuart W
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Krisdy S
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saskia D
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10831
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