Mayor calls for overhaul of visas to stop harm to capital's culture

12 April 2012

Mayor Boris Johnson is backing an overhaul of visa rules blamed for damaging London's reputation as a world centre for culture.

Arts organisations, universities and businesses have all protested that a tough new points-based system is blocking the best brains and talent from entering the UK.

Today Mr Johnson followed figures including former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion and sculptor Antony Gormley in demanding a review of its impact.

The new rules for non-EU artists have been "sufficiently onerous and costly to cause some smaller arts venues to cancel shows," the mayor's new culture strategy for London says. Launched today, the document, Cultural Metropolis, pledges that the Mayor will fight to maintain funding for the arts.

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