Arts organisations could find it more difficult to host artists from outside the European Economic area once new UK immigration rules take effect. The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) has carried out a ‘snapshot’ survey of 53 members: 76% have recently hosted such artists; 55% consider those artists to be “vital to their business”; and 81% said that the new rules, which consist of a points-based system due to come into force in November, would affect their work, citing “cost, legal hurdles and increased administration” as potential barriers to employing international artists. There was also concern that artists from countries with sparse infrastructure or shifting political situations might have difficulty in obtaining the necessary biometric data. However, only 2% of respondents said they would decrease the number of foreign artists they employ. Reasons given for the importance of international artists to the UK arts scene included artistic excellence, cultural exchange, creating better intercultural understanding and the special skills of particular artists. It is feared that the rules will make the UK arts scene “more mono-cultural and less vibrant”.
The UK Government has also announced its intention to introduce new visa regimes for 11 countries: Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. Visitors from these countries will now require a visa whatever the length of their stay in the UK. “This will be a blow to those who were hoping to bring artists from these countries in for projects of less than three months duration,” said NCA Director Louise de Winter. However, the new regime will not be considered necessary “if these countries are able to present compelling evidence that they do not pose a threat to the UK in terms of illegal immigration, crime and security”.