UK immigration: 'Issue more visas to performing artists'
May 11 2009 by Ranjan Chakraborty
SOL includes ballet dancers
UK immigration has been urged to make more UK visa concessions for performing artists.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) strongly recommends that
contemporary dancers, orchestral musicians in particular are given the same
concessions as ballet dancers, whose occupation appears on the shortage
occupations list (SOL). Individuals whose occupations appear on this list receive
additional points towards their UK visa applications.
MAC chairperson
David Metcalf said his organisation had made its recommendation on the basis
that there would always be some shortages of labour, even in a recession. This
applied just as much to performing artists as to those workers providing key
public services because it was important for the UK to "maintain global
leadership" culturally.
However, John Smith, general secretary of the
Musicians' Union, was less certain that UK visa applications from musicians
ought to be treated as a priority: "We are not opposed to musicians coming into
the UK to work under certain circumstances,” he said. "What we do not agree with
is the inclusion of orchestral musicians in the recommended shortage occupation
lists, because we have yet to be convinced of there being a shortage of
orchestral musicians in this country."
See the latest Immigration News
