PETITION AGAINST HOME OFFICE RESTRICTIONS ON NON-EU ARTISTS AND ACADEMICS

From: Emily Pethick
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:26:40 +0000
Subject: Petition against Home Office restrictions on non-EU artists and academics

Dear friends and colleagues,

I'm writing to draw your attention to a petition that has been formed against the new Home Office restructions to non-EU artists and academics.

In January Russian artist Dmitry Vilensky was twice refused a Visa to enter the UK on account of the fact that he was to earn a small fee for a seminar that was co-organised by The Showroom and Afterall. Since then we have become more aware of the recent changes in restrictions that make it difficult and expensive for arts organsations to bring artists and academics from outside of the EU.

The civil liberties group, The Manifesto Club along with Manick Govinda of Arts Admin, The Showroom, Afterall and other arts groups are working hard to get the message across that these parochial and suspicious regulations need to be reconsidered, and re-affirm the vital contribution made by global artists and scholars to UK cultural and intellectual life.

A campaign website and a petition have been set up:

http://www.manifestoclub.com/visitingartists

The petition can be accessed via the Manifesto Club webpage through the above link.

Following the campaign, there has also been a report on this matter in The Observer:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/feb/22/immigration-arts-gormley
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2009/feb/22/9

A public meeting will be held in late spring/early summer to consolidate, discuss and co-ordinate further action on this issue. We are looking for a space to host this meeting, so any offers would be greatly appreciated.

We will hope that you will support this initiative and please continue to spread the word.

Yours sincerely,

Emily Pethick

The Showroom
44 Bonner Road
London E2 9JS
Tel: 020 8983 4115
Fax: 020 8981 4115