SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald raised has concerns in The Scottish Parliament, over the threat that Brexit poses to the future of the Edinburgh Festivals.
The Edinburgh Pentlands MSP asked The Scottish Government “what impact the Tory government’s plans to impose further restrictions on EU workers coming to Scotland will have on our internationally acclaimed festivals.”
Festival organisers have previously described the visa process for performers who want to appear at Edinburgh arts festivals as “humiliating” and “Kafka-esque”.
In response to Gordon MacDonald, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Fiona Hyslop, highlighted that the additional restrictions on people to coming to this country will affect both artists and visitors. She said that the “attitude of the UK government and its attitude towards Europe will affect how people see this country”.
Gordon MacDonald has repeatedly highlighted the “devastating” impact that the UK government’s hostile environment has had on the ability to attract international guests to Edinburgh’s festivals.
In a Members’ Debate that he led last year, he argued that since the Tory government introduced hard-line visa controls, visa applications for performers have been hit by refusals, errors and delays, with some acclaimed international writers, actors and musicians forced to cancel trips to festivals across the capital.
The SNP MSP has now written to the UK government to raise these additional concerns for the future of the capital’s festivals.
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald, said: “The Edinburgh Festivals are world class and have enormous cultural and economic benefits, not only for our capital, but for Scotland.
“The success of the Festivals rely on the seamless flow of artists and people from across the world – something that the Tory government seem intent on preventing.
“For years now, artists have been deterred from coming here because of the UK government’s humiliating application process and their current obsession with a hard Brexit looks like it is going to make this situation worse.
“The UK government need to open their eyes to the damage they are causing to our festivals.”
Gordon MacDonald MSP’s letter to Rt Hon Baroness Nicky Morgan:
Dear Nicky,
Edinburgh Festivals – Restrictions on EU workers
As you will be aware, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival and the city is well recognised for its world-leading festival scene.
Over the last few years it has become apparent that the Festivals have experienced significant challenges due to UK government hard-line visa controls. This is an issue that has been raised by myself, Deidre Brock MP and the industry on several occasions.
However, on this occasion, I am writing to express further concern for the Festivals following the announcement by the UK government of plans to impose further restrictions on EU workers coming to the UK.
The success of the Festivals rely on the seamless flow of artists and people from across the world, and the current immigration system has already had a negative impact on the Festival’s ability to attract international artists. I’m sure you can appreciate the concerns about even further restrictions for workers entering the UK.
Can you confirm that you be attending the Scottish Government’s summit on festival visas in February 2020? Can you commit to meet industry representatives to discuss the UK government’s new plans for EU workers and how this will affect the Edinburgh festivals?
Yours sincerely,
Gordon Macdonald MSP
