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The combination of Brexit and Covid has seen a huge decrease in the number of eastern Europeans living in the UK, among them artists. This exodus is a great loss, argue Professor Sara Jones and Dr Kinga Goodwin.

As many English arts venues finally start welcoming back audiences, for artists like Justina* and many central and eastern European nationals in the creative industries, it will be too late. 

Justina will instead restart her career as an artist in Lithuania, her country of birth, as she feels unable to continue her career in the UK. 

“I don’t see myself living in the UK,” she says. “Feeling not really welcome, having trouble travelling to other countries, having trouble collaborating internationally – it’s not something I can accept, actually.”

Justina’s story is common among central and eastern European (CEE) artists living in the UK. They are experiencing a ‘perfect storm’ of xenophobia in their everyday and professional lives, austerity and funding cuts... Keep reading on Byline Times.