African and Asian artists condemn ‘humiliating’ UK and EU visa refusals

Unfair' rejection rates of up to 70% harm cultural diversity and create a global apartheid', say promoters and musicians

Musicians, authors, producers and festival managers have hit out at humiliating" and costly visa-rejection rates for African and Asian artists visiting Britain and European Union countries, saying it is having a chilling impact on cultural diversity.

Analysis shows the UK last year raised 44m in fees for visa applications that were then rejected, mainly coming from low- and middle-income countries. The EU made 130m (110m).