Urgent Matters - Arrangement nr. 4: ADVOCACY vs. POLICY: Status of practicing foreign artists’ working conditions across 5 European countries (Online)

In an effort to reconnect with sister organizations across Europe and re-engage with the Aliens Network — a transnational initiative launched by Verdensrommet (NO) to share tools, exchange knowledge, and address key challenges faced by non-EU/EEA creative professionals in the Nordics — UKK hosted an online conversation in the fall of 2024.

The discussion focused on how recent national restrictions are impacting foreign artists working in Italy, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark.
This initiative builds on the ongoing work of numerous arts organizations committed to challenging exclusionary regulations and fostering an inclusive environment where all artists can live, work, and create freely.

The conversation addressed urgent matters such as immigration policies, fair wages, and working conditions, viewed through the perspectives of professionals and activists from across the continent. Beyond mapping the current realities of this motley and dynamic sector, the gathering also served as a platform to deepen collaboration between participating organizations. Together, they aim at co-producing events, contributing to shared publications, developing new forms of resistance, and strengthening political advocacy efforts.

Unsurprisingly, the degree to which each country supports foreign artists varies greatly. This unevenness alone underscores the need for a shared framework or more harmonized national policies to ensure fairer conditions across the board.

More to come—stay tuned for our next chapter!

The participating organizations are:

AWI – Art Workers Italy (Italy)
AIVAG – Artists in Iceland Visa Action Group (Iceland)
Globe Art Point (Finland)
UNICORN (Sweden)
UKK – Organisation for Kunstnere, Kuratorer og Kunstformidlere (Denmark)