Member News
Lord Clement-Jones writes for ePolitix.com ahead of his oral question in the House of Lords on the impact the points-based visa system is having on non-European Union artists and academics wanting to carry out bona fide activities but being denied entry to the UK.
A recent report by the Manifesto Club, 'Cancelled by order of the Home Office', sets out an appalling catalogue of the damage done to Britain's reputation as a centre for international arts as a result of the Home Office's points-based system introduced in November 2008.
These affect international artists and academics who visit the UK for a variety of cultural and academic activities.
Leading artists such as Anthony Gormley and Jeremy Deller and the directors of the National Theatre and National Portrait Gallery have written about the damage done.
The case studies included in the comprehensive Manifesto Club report include cancellations of high profile concerts by Grigory Sokolov, the cancellation of a visit from the Iranian film maker Abbas Kiarostami, the closure of the Swansea-based Ballet Russe – whose dancers were unable to get visas and the case of Canadian singer Allison Crowe, who was detained at Gatwick then deported and told that she would not be able to perform in the UK again.
The new points-based system requires artists and academics to demonstrate that they have £800 n savings and requires monitoring by 'sponsors' of the artists and academics involved, which means that they are responsible for monitoring to ensure that the artists and academics do not abscond during their visit. Biometric data is required, yet biometric equipment may not be available in particular countries.
As a result of the new visa arrangements, over 20 major events have been cancelled or badly affected. As the Manifesto Club says, these new regulations will do little to stop terrorists, but they do hamper UK arts organisations and academic institutions in their important work of cultural and academic exchange.
On December 15, I am raising the matter in the Lords with the government. The UK Borders Agency seems to have taken little notice of representations by these organisations and it is vital that all those affected by the new visa restrictions continue to campaign vigorously until we change the system to one that no longer damages UK arts and cultural exchange.
Article Comments
UK musicians and the UK government earn considerable revenue from export earnings and tours outside the EU. By making it very difficult and expensive to obtain visas, artists from outside the EU are often denied the benefits of showcasing their music in the UK and hence valuable export earnings for themselves and their countries. There is much talk of fair trade and the need for developing countries to earn revenue yet the UK Borders Agency persist in making it increasingly difficult for artists to visit the UK. This represents a huge loss for UK audiences keen to explore music from diverse cultures. It is really only through touring that music sales can be generated. The jeopardy that faces festivals and other arts organizations and promoters because of the lack of certainty that artists will be able to obtain a visa is making the business of promoting music of the world in the UK ever more risky. This is unacceptable from a government supposedly committed to increasing overseas aid but at the same time denying, often those same countries, the ability to exploit their own talent. We need to turn this from a lose lose to a win win by campaigning for a fairer system.
chris smallwood
16th Jan 2010 at 7:36 pm
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