The UK government wants to “change the system whereby arts companies can enter Britain on a joint visa. This could force every member of a visiting group to apply individually for work permits – and be charged more to do so. The proposals could be disastrous for the arts, said Tim Hawkins, producer of the Edinburgh Fringe’s renowned Aurora Nova festival of foreign performance. ‘We bring about 200-300 foreign performers to the UK each year. If we had to do an individual application for each, it would be a nightmare’.”