Update: Tamizdat’s 2026 Artist Mobility White Paper is Coming Soon
Tamizdat’s 2026 Artist Mobility White Paper is about to be released
Tamzidat is about to publish the new edition of our periodic report on the US artist visa system. Our White Paper on Artist Mobility to the US details what’s working and what’s not, and proposes legal solutions that USCIS or the US Department of State could implement. It has been an essential guide for our sector in our work to advocate for a faster, cheaper, more transparent, and a fairer artist visa system.
What is a White Paper, and what is Tamizdat’s Artist Mobility White Paper about?
A “white paper” is an authoritative, in-depth report created to explain a complex set of problems and to promote specific solutions or policies.
The US government’s dysfunctional artist visa system is a massive inhibitor of culture in the US. Tamizdat’s White Paper on Artist Mobility to the US is the most authoritative, periodic report on the topic, detailing the dysfunctions, and also suggesting practical data-driven solutions. Using almost 30 years of experience in immigration, we monitor the work of the US government, identify problems, and suggest specific actionable solutions. This report is used widely throughout the cultural, legal, and government sectors by people and organizations working to improve the US artist visa process. It has guided the cultural sector’s advocacy efforts, and was the focal point of a groundbreaking conversation with and between the relevant government agencies. It is frequently quoted in government policy updates and is an indispensable resource in the ongoing effort to keep US audiences connected to international culture.
Deepening Our Work and Broadening Our View: Tamizdat’s White Paper Project in 2026
Since our last edition was published in 2023, there have been so many changes in US immigration that with this edition we have broadened our the purpose of the White Paper: The 2026 edition recognizes that our work plays a critical role in documenting the unprecedented degradation of our country’s immigration agencies, their policies, and their practices. Moreover, this edition will be a guiding resource for the performing arts sector as it works collaboratively toward a wide range of reforms and advocacy strategies. We hope that this edition will help protect against the erosion of expertise while mapping a path toward a better, fairer, and more resilient arts immigration system in the future.
We believe that American culture cannot thrive when systemic barriers to artistic mobility deny the American people access to the world’s abundance of rich cultural diversity. Tamizdat’s 2026 edition of our White Paper on Artist Mobility to the US is an integral part of our work to safeguard, rebuild, and maintain America’s place in the fabric of global culture. The 2026 Artist Mobility White Paper is on track to be released in October.
We look forward to sharing this resource with you this fall, and continuing to work together in support of a healthy, vibrant cultural sector that is connected with the world!