SCOTLAND’S culture sector would “flourish even further” if it weren’t for the UK Government’s post-Brexit visa rules, the SNP have said.
The party claimed that a number of performances at some of Scotland’s most famous cultural events were cancelled due to the performer's visa being rejected by the UK’s immigration system.
Post-Brexit visa rules have also made it more difficult for Scottish artists to tour abroad.
Previously, the head of the Edinburgh International Festival called for the “disastrous” UK visa and export rules to be greatly simplified to allow musicians and artists to travel overseas more easily.
According to the Musicians’ Union, 72% of artists across the UK said their income from work in the EU had decreased, while 59% said touring the EU was no longer financially viable.
Previously, the head of the Edinburgh International Festival called for the “disastrous” UK visa and export rules to be greatly simplified to allow musicians and artists to travel overseas more easily.
The SNP said that under an independent Scotland, the government would build a visa system for travelling artists that suited Scotland’s needs.
Gordon MacDonald, SNP MSP for Edinburgh, Pentlands, argued that independence would supercharge Scotland’s global presence while giving the Scottish Government the full powers to promote Scotland’s art scene internationally, alongside building an immigration system that supports the country’s needs.
He said: “Edinburgh is a world-class city and over the past month has hosted a wide-range of world-class festivals, attracting artists and visitors from around the world. We need a Visa system that enables us to attracts world-class performers rather than deters them from coming here.
“With the powers of independence, we can put an end to the stories of events being cancelled because of needlessly punitive UK Government Visa rules.
“Rejoining the world as an independent country, with our own seat at the EU and the UN, would boost Scotland’s international presence.
“The full powers of independence would supercharge Scotland’s culture sector – we must reach out and seize that opportunity.”
MacDonald’s calls come after the Home Office U-turn on its visa refusal for the renowned Arabic poet Soukaina Habiballah in March last year.
The 34-year-old from Morocco thought she would have to cancel her performance at St Andrews Poetry Festival after the UK Government claimed she was a potential illegal immigrant.
However, the Home Office U-turned on its decision after “further information was provided”.
In the same year, a show at the Edinburgh Fringe’s Underbelly was forced to cancel one of its shows because two of its African cast members were refused visas by the UK Home Office.
Two teenage artists with the Circus Boabab group were denied visas because they did not have bank accounts, despite the company proving that return flight tickets had been purchased for everybody.
At the time, Underbelly Director, Ed Bartlam, slammed the Home Office’s decision as he said: “How can this festival hope to be international if the UK is preventing access to any continent other than the USA, Europe, Australia and New Zealand?”
