Art Moves Africa – Retracing Roots and Tracing New Routes: Mobility and Touring in North Africa

35
Summary of Outcomes
—
QUOTE:
« This immigration question, this
‘potential immigrant’
label – we carry those loads
heavily. Travelling, in and of
itself (with or without an artistic
purpose), is not a right that is
given to us. To secure that right,
we have to undergo countless
administrative processes, we have
to lay ourselves bare, and without
any guarantee of success.
So much energy, so many
strategies, so much paperwork…
it’s exhausting after awhile. »
Hind Benali
Dancer and choreographer,
founder of Compagnie Fleur
d’Orange,
Casablanca*
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1.
VISAS
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Difficulties obtaining visas for travel were one of the two most
frequently cited obstacles to mobility for North African cultural
actors. The Schengen space has become increasingly difficult
to access for cultural actors from across the region due to the
migration crisis, post-9 / 11 security context and heightening
xenophobia. Young men describe themselves as personae
non-gratae in Europe. Cultural actors from older generations,
despite having made frequent travels to Europe in the past, are
also subject to visa refusals or severe time limitations for their
stays in Europe.
Visa issues also inhibit mobility within the North African region,
for example for cultural actors wishing to travel to Egypt and
Libyan artists wanting to travel outside Tunisia.
The following issues are most frequently cited with respect to visas:
Faced with these restrictions, artists and operators must often
rely on personal contacts within embassies or ministries to try to
expedite their applications. When applications are denied, they
must restructure projects: for example, many meetings happen
in Jordan because visa access is easier than for countries such
as Egypt.
Refusals:
Long wait times:
The motive given is usually “likelihood of non-return,”
often despite extensive proof of employment, means of
subsistence, family in the home country, etc. Many artists
feel visa refusal decisions are arbitrary and / or motivated
by poor organization and / or xenophobia. While refusals
especially affect young artists (and especially men), successful
and established artists have also been affected.
Respondents reported having to wait as long as 6 months
for an appointment at the consulate or embassy, especially
since many European countries ceased to process visa
applications through their embassies and externalized
visa services to agency TLScontact. Wait times may be
so long that applicants are given an appointment that
is after the event they planned to attend. Furthermore,
delivery of the visa may take several weeks, which also
jeopardizes artists’ ability to make commitments to events /
residencies / etc. and follow through on travel plans.