\n READ MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>Extra support for former Grangemouth oil refinery workers announced<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n According to the Musicians\u2019 Union, 72% of artists across the UK said their income from work in the EU had decreased, while 59% said touring the EU was no longer financially viable.\n<\/p>\n \n Previously, the head of the Edinburgh International Festival called for the \u201cdisastrous\u201d UK visa and export rules to be greatly simplified to allow musicians and artists to travel overseas more easily.\n<\/p>\n \n The SNP said that under an independent Scotland, the government would build a visa system for travelling artists that suited Scotland\u2019s needs.\n<\/p>\n \n Gordon MacDonald, SNP MSP for Edinburgh, Pentlands, argued that independence would supercharge Scotland\u2019s global presence while giving the Scottish Government<\/a> the full powers to promote Scotland\u2019s art scene internationally, alongside building an immigration system that supports the country\u2019s needs.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n \n He said: \u201cEdinburgh is a world-class city and over the past month has hosted a wide-range of world-class festivals, attracting artists and visitors from around the world. We need a Visa system that enables us to attracts world-class performers rather than deters them from coming here.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cWith the powers of independence, we can put an end to the stories of events being cancelled because of needlessly punitive UK Government Visa rules.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cRejoining the world as an independent country, with our own seat at the EU and the UN, would boost Scotland\u2019s international presence.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThe full powers of independence would supercharge Scotland\u2019s culture sector \u2013 we must reach out and seize that opportunity.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n MacDonald\u2019s calls come after the Home Office U-turn on its visa refusal for the renowned Arabic poet Soukaina Habiballah in March last year.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n The 34-year-old from Morocco thought she would have to cancel her performance at St Andrews<\/a> Poetry Festival after the UK Government claimed she was a potential illegal immigrant.\n<\/p>\n \n However, the Home Office U-turned on its decision after \u201cfurther information was provided\u201d.\n<\/p>\n(Image: Archive)\n<\/p>\n
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