Visiting Artists and Academics
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
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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Andy M
- Title/position
- Freelance writer
- Comments
- Visas are killing cultural exchange
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Maryam J
- Title/position
- Business Affairs Manager
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magda b
- Title/position
- production manager (performing arts)
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Gavin G
- Title/position
- theatre company director
- Comments
- Stop this 'island'mentality. If not Britain will become a cultural backwater!
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Goran T
- Title/position
- Teaching assistant
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Hannah C
- Title/position
- music consultant
- Comments
- В
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Vicente S
- Comments
- I'm a foreigner who loves the UK and is dismayed to see the damage this government is doing to its international image.
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Sue D
- Title/position
- Puppeteer/Puppet Maker
- Comments
- В
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Gillie R
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Juliet M
- Title/position
- Theatre co director
- Comments
- Too restrictive
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Earl of C
- Title/position
- Crossbench peer in House of Lords
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Shannon
- Comments
- Seriously? When a petition is needed in order to allow a CANADIAN musician to perform in the UK, we have a problem. Alley...come on down to the USA...we love ya here, girl!
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Sylvia F
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Dr. Kojo Opoku A
- Title/position
- Research Fellow and Head of History and Politics
- Comments
- This new Bill, if passed, will erode the artistic and intellectual gains made in the last century. Freedom of mevement of academics is behing the broadening of the frontiers of knowledge and must be protected
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Ellen H
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Patricia L
- Title/position
- Miss
- Comments
- in support of visiting poets
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Gemma T
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Poulomi B
- Comments
- Stop humiliating Artists!
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Paul K
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Adriana Barros F
- Title/position
- Photograph student
- Comments
- For equal treatment
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Lucy C
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Hester J
- Title/position
- Artist
- Comments
- I am shocked to hear the Home Office refused entry to 8 actors of Brazilian company Teatro da Curva at the UK border under the new restrictions on visiting international artists.They were invited by Camden Fringe Festival and self-funded their trip to perform in the UK. Surely this treatment is not acceptable and our artists are not treated in this way if they travel to Brazil.
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Adriano Alves de M
- Title/position
- Lawyer
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Daniela P
- Title/position
- photographer
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maha
- Title/position
- designer
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Andy
- Title/position
- photography
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Rachel G
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Wendy W
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Conor K
- Title/position
- mr
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Simon L
- Title/position
- Composer/Musician
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Michelle C
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David P
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Mariana P
- Title/position
- Theatre Director
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Helen T
- Title/position
- Mrs
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Kat B
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Jennifer S
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Remy B
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Derek B
- Title/position
- Photographer
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Rhiannon S
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Richard G
- Title/position
- director
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Jiri M
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Mariana Puliti P
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Ben B
- Title/position
- affiliated young artist, Old Vic/New Voices
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Maria Carolina D
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Leandro D
- Title/position
- Actor
- Comments
- Eu sou uma vitima desse sistema!
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Amy E
- Title/position
- Animator
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Rey
- Title/position
- Actor
- Comments
- I'm a member of "teatro da curva" too. We was invited by the Camdem Fringe Festival to perform our play. The name of the play is "CANDIDE" and we act in this play for almost 3 years e traveled A LOT. The UK are first one and only who refuse us. In another word, this country invited us to performe our art and the SAME country send us back like animals. They treat us like dogs or potencial terrorists. Honestly, thats the worst felling in the world, you guys maybe don't know what i'm talking about, and before yesterday, i didn't know too. So, I'm asking you guys. What I did wrong? We had all the documents. We had enough cash. We was well dressed. The festival is not paying us, we traveled with OUR founds! Why? Just because we are actors... and from Brazil? Maybe they thought that my accordion that I was carrying in my hand it was a bomb. Sorry about my bad english, but my anger, is stronger than my grammar. UK - The country from John Lennon... and from Jean Charles too.
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Ricardo luiz Faria G
- Title/position
- Actor
- Comments
- I,m actor from "Teatro da Curva" company too. I don't speak english very well, but the words of Leandro D'errico explaned all our feel. Sorry for the bad english, but what we feel can't be explaned in words.
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Will H
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Mariana
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10831
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