John Freeman at Down The Tubes has just posted information about Nikhil Singh. We thought you might want to see it as well….
Saturday 24th October should have been a great night for John Harris Dunning & Nikhil Singh as they were meant to be at the ICA as part of the Comica festival for the launch of their new graphic novel Saelm Brownstone (reviewed just last week right here).
Except Nikhil Singh couldn’t attend, as he’s stuck in South Africa and has been for the past 5 months due to the British Home Office Policy of not renewing Artists’ Visas, forcing all artists to reapply for “Tier One Higher Skilled Worker Visa” which requires “a degree or similar proof of tertiary education”.
Effectively Singh; born in South Africa but resident in Britain for three years and a highly acclaimed and published artist, cannot get the visa he needs to continue his life in this country since he doesn’t have the required degree to show his high skill level. Funny, I would have thought the published book and international acclaim for said book was far greater proof of his skill than a degree.
There’s more detail on this at Down The Tubes. Like John says, should you wish to joing the campaign run by The Manifesto Club in support of visiting artists you can do so here: www.manifestoclub.com/visitingartists
October 31st, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I’m shocked at this (besides really liking Nikhil’s art on Salem), and as a published writer/artist with no higher education myself, it makes you wonder what other avenues might be now or eventually closed off to those without the right paperwork!
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:29 am
How it’s possible that a published author/illustrator cannot attend their own book launch, even when they are published by a British publisher and have had reams of support is beyond belief. It just goes to show how far removed from reality government policy is.
It is an extremely poor situation. Short-sighted and seemingly impossible to petition. Perhaps Peter Mandelson might like to comment on how this is helpful?
November 10th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
The treatemt of talented individuals who work hard and have a lot to give is just not recognised by the bunch of bureacratic hierachial scoundrels who ru(i)n things and who won’t lose a wink of sleep destroying peoples dreams.
Let’s just hope that with Nikhil being turned away now that it will bring attention to the inequality that those from the Southern Hemisphere, the forgotten, face on a regular basis. And hopefully the more that this catastrophe is brough to light it will put yolk on the face of policy makers who will fold and allow Nikhil to come back here and in turn make it possible for the freedom for other artists to follow where their dreams flourish.