Template for Contacting Your Representative About Supernova Visa Issues

Ska music has always been political - by, and for The People. Unfortunately, current politics have kept ska music away from the people at the Supernova Ska Festival this year. It is time for us to make our voices heard.

If you are new to contacting your representatives, please know that I am proud of you for taking a few minutes to help your community be a more equitable place! You are taking an active step in empowering your community and our country. ❤️

Follow the steps below to contact your representatives:

1. Identify your representatives.

   1. Find your Representative here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

   2. Find your Senator here: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

   3. Search your state's website for how to find your district's state House of Representatives

2. Determine how to best contact your representatives through their websites (form, email, letter mail).
   

3. Use the following template as a starting point to contact your local representatives about the impact you felt from artists visas being denied from performing at Supernova Ska Festival. Remember: your representative represents YOU, so let them know how policy impacts your life.

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Dear (Representative/Senator/Congressman or Congresswoman) (Last name):

My name is (Full Name) and I am a constituent in your district. I am writing to inform you about a recent visa situation that negatively impacted a music festival I support each year. Due to this administration's policy changes in immigration and visa approvals, nearly one quarter of the bands scheduled to perform were not able to because of visa issues.

For over a decade, The Supernova International Ska Festival has welcomed artists from across the globe to the state of Virginia to perform. This year, 34 bands were scheduled to play over 3 days. 8 of those bands (23.4%) came from abroad and were unable to perform due to a variety of visa issues. At least eighty musicians were impacted. These bands/individuals are from Denmark, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Venezuela, and Russia. This independently-run festival is familiar with navigating the visa process, however, this year's disproportionate amount of delays and denials resulted in great disappointment and financial losses.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident and more and more artists are being denied the opportunity to perform in front of American audiences. As a patron of the arts, I fear we will continue to see cancelled concerts, disappointed fans, and artists avoiding the United States. I am concerned over the long-term negative impacts this will have on our culture and communities.  

Even though the festival has concluded this year, I know that this pattern will continue within our community and across our country. I am asking you to please consider the impact to arts and music when representing my and our community’s stance on new visa and immigration policy.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

  (Signature)

(Full Name Printed)