Visiting Artists and Academics

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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.

10831 Signatures

  • tatiana lohmann s
    • Title/position
    • cineasta
  • carolina terrav c
    • Title/position
    • figurinista
  • Fernando M
    • Title/position
    • director
  • cristina l
    • Title/position
    • cineasta
  • Luiz Carlos L
    • Title/position
    • moviemaker
  • Carlos Alberto R
    • Title/position
    • actor / director
  • Ana Maria M
    • Title/position
    • Atriz e cineasta
  • Jorge D
    • Title/position
    • Director
    • Comments
    • Assino Petiзгo
  • Manfredo C
    • Title/position
    • Documentarista
  • Roberto G
    • Title/position
    • filmmaker
    • Comments
    • В
  • Pedro K
  • Roberta C
    • Title/position
    • Actress
  • rose la c
    • Title/position
    • filmmaker
    • Comments
    • we believe in internationalism and cultural exchange as a way to qualify our life on this planet
  • Jaqueline F
  • Нcaro C. M
    • Title/position
    • director
  • leticia
  • Marina P
    • Title/position
    • Filmaker
    • Comments
    • В
  • Priscila Araujo Scalice S
    • Title/position
    • lawyer
  • Catherine H
  • Andrew G
    • Title/position
    • Team Leader, Condition Management
    • Comments
    • These regulations run contrary to the history of cultural exchange and academic cross fertilisation that we have built up over the years
  • remi
  • Megan P
    • Title/position
    • Arts Manager
  • Christopher D
  • Lucy D
  • Christine E
    • Title/position
    • Art Critic & Curator
  • Peter B
  • Neil K
    • Title/position
    • Composer
    • Comments
    • В
  • Anusha Y
  • Anton h
    • Title/position
    • Trainee Photomarketer
    • Comments
    • This country and other EU and European countries should learn to love their neighbours by making them welcome. Instead of making schooling compulsory why not make the buildings and grounds used for this available to the currently unwelcome immigrants so that their hosts may learn hospitality?
  • Hannah L
  • Lynette S
    • Title/position
    • General Manager, Little Angel Theatre/SUSPENSE London Puppetry Festival
  • michael p
    • Comments
    • ‎.....infantilization by the hyper-regulation of everyday life.
  • Michael F
    • Title/position
    • Mr
  • Dmitry B
    • Title/position
    • Chief Executive Officer, Aton Capital Partners; Member of the Board, Chairman of the Audit Committee, SUEK; Trustee, Richmond University; Trustee, Little Angel Theatre
  • Terry M
    • Title/position
    • Finance Officer-The Little Angel Theatre
  • mariana f
    • Title/position
    • architect
  • Tarik A
    • Title/position
    • Artist / Booking Agent
    • Comments
    • Ridiculous and racist.
  • Esther B
  • Pierre P
  • David D
    • Title/position
    • Technical Manager
  • Duncan M
    • Title/position
    • Trainee Solicitor
    • Comments
    • Current Visa requirements do so much harm and zero good.
  • Steve P
    • Comments
    • Myself and seven friends were let down on 09/09/10 due to a cancelled gig by Australian band Koritni who were refused entry into the country despite touring the UK previously.
  • lara R
  • Kate E
    • Title/position
    • Student/Journalist
    • Comments
    • I am outraged at this, and the general attitude towards arts (specifically budget cuts) that is being actively applied at the moment. Don't destroy the things that make this country worth living in.
  • Roberta J
    • Title/position
    • Artist
  • Bill P
  • Soraya A
    • Title/position
    • Brazilian artist
    • Comments
    • Against the decadence!
  • Melissa H
  • erik n
  • Slavka J
    • Title/position
    • Arts and Education Consultant