Visiting Arts was formed in 1977 as a joint venture of the Arts Council of Great Britain, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British Council and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. In April 2001 it became an educational charity legally independent of the British Council and in March 2003 it moved into central London premises of its own. It is funded by Arts Council England, the Scottish Arts Council, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Arts Council of Wales, the British Council, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It is the creator of the Cultural Profiles project (http://www.culturalprofiles.org.uk).
Visiting Arts is an independent educational charity with an independent Board chaired by Professor Sir Gordon Conway.
A range of practical information is available online for those wanting to bring work into the UK from overseas:
See also
- Visiting Arts’ grant funding programmes
http://www.visitingarts.org.uk/funding/index.html
- Red Tape
http://www.visitingarts.org.uk/redtape.html - a guide to practical issues to consider when bringing artists and performers to the UK from overseas covering work permits, visas, tax and other practical issues.
- Nail to Nail
http://www.visitingarts.org.uk/Nailtonail.html - practical guidelines to assist UK curators and exhibition organisers who are planning to exhibit international work or invite visual artists for residencies in the UK. The guide covers work permits, contracts, visas, tax, transportation and other practical issues.
- Info Sheets
Information sheets containing tips and hints:
http://www.visitingarts.org.uk/tips_theatre_dance.html - for theatre groups wanting to approach UK producers and presenters
http://www.visitingarts.org.uk/tips_visual_arts.html - for visual artists wanting to approach UK galleries and curators
http://www.visitingarts.org.uk/tips_music.html - for musicians and groups seeking to approach music promoters and presenters in the UK
Online Resources about International Artists - http://www.visitingarts.org.uk/artists/index.html
An online resource where UK-based programmers and curators can exchange information about overseas artists that they are planning or considering to bring to the UK for projects involving presentation, collaboration or residencies. This resource is designed as a networking and information tool that will enable programmers and curators to present international arts more efficiently in the UK.
Culturebase - http://www.culturebase.net
A unique online information resource of over 1000 artists and performers from geographical regions such as Asia, Africa, Latin America, Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe who have previously presented their work in Europe. Developed by the House of World Cultures, Intercult, Visiting Arts, the Danish Center for Culture and Development and the Baltic Sea Culture Centre with the support of the Culture 2000 programme of the European Union, the site also has a page of useful links to similar resources.
Events, Projects and Case Studies - http://www.visitingarts.org.uk/casestudies/index.html
Information about Visiting Arts’ activities and funded projects that have taken place or are upcoming in the United Kingdom.