Help an artist with her visa to stay in the UK

Christine Kammerer is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi everyone,

My name is Christine Kammerer. I am an award-nominated singer, composer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who specialises in international cultural heritage projects and using music to build bonds beyond borders.

For the past 2 years I have lived in Scotland on a Global Talent Visa for Music, pursuing my career both in Scotland and internationally, and building on a network which I spent nearly 10 years cultivating prior to moving over.

Unfortunately, my visa runs out in the end of May 2024. To stay in the UK the next 3 years – after which I can apply for Settled Status – I have to raise £3821 for the visa fee and the NHS surcharge.

Anyone contributing is also warmly welcomed to partake in my fundraising concert on 9 May in Edinburgh.

EVENT HERE

Though I have worked tirelessly on building my career here - which anyone who knows me can attest to -, and it has paid off in terms of a lot of work and releases, I can’t afford the visa after the fees have gone up so much.

For two years I sacrificed social life, seeing my family and having a steady income to pursue my career. Supporting myself by working part time at Johnnie Walker Princes Street as an Experience Ambassador and Performance Artist.

I have only been able to work there part time, in order to meet the demands of my music career, meaning that I have not been able to enough aside to meet the visa fees.

WATCH CREATIVE DECK WITH LINKS AND REVIEWS HERE

In my two years here I have:

• Co-developed the award-nominated, critically acclaimed musical whisky, experience “Whisky & Witches”, which has toured 3 countries, sold out 15 shows and has garnered award-nominations and 5-star reviews.

• Recorded two albums - one, which is a cultural heritage/folk music-based collaboration between musicians from Scotland and Scandinavia: “A Symphonic Fusion of Nordic and Celtic Folk Music”. Featuring award-winning musicians from Scotland, Denmark and Norway. Both albums are being released in 2024

• Toured 4 countries with my music

• Worked on “Cultural Identity & Integration through Arts”: Written compositions for integration and community building projects for The University of Glasgow/UNESCO RILA, Maryhill Integration Network, and The Scottish Crannog Centre

• Graduated from the OurWhisky Mentorship Programme, and worked nearly 2 years in the whisky industry

• Graduated as a Music Producer from MPW

All I want to do, is stay in Scotland and continue the work and the collaborations I have worked so hard to build. Scotland feels like my home.

After reading this, and seeing the work I have done over the past two years, I hope that you will be interested in contributing to this campaign. So I may continue contributing to the music scene in the UK, and as an international artist representing both Scandinavia and Scotland.

I will be so deeply grateful for any contribution you may consider giving me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

All the best

Christine Kammerer

WATCH VIDEO ABOUT ALBUM PROJECT HERE