New Global Talent Guidance - Arts Council England (Feb 2025)

I love it when new guidance comes out. It lets us in on their experience of receiving and considering applications, and most importantly how they view some of these. Before we deep-dive, it’s useful to remind ourselves that this particular guidance is speaking to several different types of candidates, each with unique requirements. So here we go:

Key Changes in the February 2025 Guidance

1. Clarification on Media Recognition and Awards

• Media recognition and awards must now be strictly for professional work only. Evidence related to student or amateur work will no longer be accepted. This has always been the case, but it seems that ACE might be getting inundated with ineligible media evidence. Media recognition evidence is often quite difficult to identify for a lay client, even with this clear guidance, as I have seen in several cases where the boundaries overlap. Best to discuss with an expert who can lean on their experience to advise you.

2. Updated List of Notable Industry Awards

• The list of acceptable Notable Industry Recognition Awards for film, TV, and animation professionals has been revised to add more. The specific guide to demonstrating your contributions is inserted here from PACT’s own guidance, so in reality, it appears to be a formatting change to this guidance to embrace the details from PACT rather than content change.

3. Expanded Ineligible Disciplines

• The latest update significantly expands the list of ineligible disciplines (full list below), with notable exclusions including event hosts, digital content creators, and social media influencers.

4. others

others remain the same, e.g. British Fashion Council willl look for:

1. Evidence of international media recognition

2. Evidence of recent catwalk shows, exhibitions, or sales through renowned retailers

3. Acceptance of social media evidence for Exceptional Promise applicants (if from credible critics or key opinion leaders)

5. Eligible Disciplines – February 2025 Update

The following disciplines are eligible under the new guidance:

• Combined Arts

  • Interdisciplinary arts

  • Multi-disciplinary arts

  • Participatory and celebratory work

  • Large-scale artistic events, festivals, and carnival arts

• Dance

  • Ballet

  • Contemporary dance

  • Aerial dance

  • Street dance

  • Folk, traditional, and culturally specific dance

  • Social dance (e.g., ceilidhs, salsa, ballroom)

  • Jazz and tap

  • Entertainment dance (e.g., musicals, dance spectaculars)

• Literature

  • Print, digital, or live poetry

  • Print, digital, or live prose fiction

  • Graphic novels and comics

  • Writing and illustration for children and young people

  • Independent publishing

  • Live literature and storytelling

  • Translation of original poetry and prose fiction

• Music

  • Classical and orchestral music

  • Opera

  • Contemporary music (e.g., pop, rock, hip-hop, DJing)

  • Folk, traditional, and culturally specific music

  • Jazz

  • Choral or gospel

• Theatre

  • Musical theatre

  • Physical theatre and mime

  • Narrative drama

  • Experimental theatre

  • Comedy (excluding TV/Film comedy)

  • Variety and cabaret

  • Pantomime

  • Circus

  • Puppetry and visual theatre

  • Youth theatre (excluding Drama in Education)

• Visual Arts

  • Drawing, painting, or printmaking

  • Sculpture and installations

  • Design (created specifically for exhibition)

  • Graphic design for exhibition (non-commercial)

  • Artist-led animation (excluding film/TV work)

  • Illustration for exhibition, zines, or picture books

  • Live and performance art

  • Mixed media and digital art

  • Ceramics, pottery, or handmade crafts for exhibition

  • Fine art photography

  • Artists film and moving image (non-commercial)

  • Sound art

  • Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality for exhibition

• Museums and Galleries (arts-focused activity only)

• Film and Television (under the Producers Alliance for Film and Television - Pact)

• Fashion Design (under the British Fashion Council)

• Architecture (under the Royal Institute of British Architects - RIBA)

6. Ineligible Disciplines – February 2025 Update

The new guidance has expanded the list of ineligible disciplines, making it crucial for applicants to confirm they qualify under eligible creative sectors before applying. The following disciplines are now explicitly listed as ineligible:

• Hair styling

• Make-up for fashion

• Fashion stylists

• Nail art

• Health and beauty

• Editorial and fashion photography

• Commercial photography

• Live events photography

• Photography and artwork for music releases

• Using AI to manipulate others' work from the web (e.g., AI photography)

• Photography, videos, CGI, design, and illustration for marketing campaigns, advertising, or branding

• Music videos (unless applying under the Film/TV - Exceptional Talent criteria)

• Art and creative direction for marketing campaigns, advertising, or branding

• Commercial illustration and/or design

• Non-fiction or educational writing and illustration

• Scientific illustration

• Stock imagery

• Self-help books

• Modelling

• Journalism (written and photographic)

• Investigative journalism

• Long-form journalism

• General writing about the arts

• Food writing

• Researchers

• Education (teachers and lecturers)

• Music education or other artistic education

• Conference programming

• Consultancy

• Marketing

• Historians

• Art historians

• Design, manufacture, or restoration of functional products, textiles, or furniture

• Working in museums and galleries in non-creative roles (e.g., front-of-house or administration)

• Arts administration

• Design work that is not in a visual arts context (e.g., graphic design, product design, industrial design, UX design, etc.)

• Technical, scientific, medical, architectural, or fashion illustration

• Podcasts

• Radio DJs

• Event hosts and masters of ceremonies

• DJs who do not produce their own music or remixes

• Competitive dance/Dancesport

• Digital content creators (e.g., YouTube channels, Instagram influencers/models)

• Art dealers/collectors

• Art critics

• Instrument makers

• Toy makers

• Music industry professionals/executives (e.g., PR, A&R, Managers)

• Tattoo artists

• Professional wrestling

• Members of curatorial teams or exhibition assistants

• Front-of-house staff

So there you go.

The expanded ineligible disciplines highlight the importance of ensuring that applicants have sufficient professional experience within eligible art discilpines only, to meet the Arts Council England’s defined remit for creative practice. For creatives seeking a Global Talent Visa, it's vital to tailor your application with precise supporting evidence, ensuring your work aligns with the endorsed criteria.

💬 Need help navigating the new guidance or preparing your application? As an experienced immigration lawyer, I specialise in supporting creatives and industry professionals with Global Talent Visa applications. Contact me for tailored advice and expert support.

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