Post-Brexit visa rules a ‘disaster’ for arts, says Edinburgh festival director

Fergus Linehan calls for visa-free travel for British artists to solve logistical problems of touring

The outgoing director of the Edinburgh festival has called for the UK's visa and exports rules to be greatly simplified to allow musicians and artists to travel overseas far more smoothly.

Fergus Linehan, who directs his last international festival next month, said the UK's post-Brexit visa rules had been a disaster" for the arts and for artists by stifling collaboration and making it harder for British artists to tour abroad.