As the economy continues to tighten, Arts Council England announces an organisational review in which 24 percent of jobs are set to be cut in order to help the organisation streamline its way to saving £6.5 million. Also this week, the Conservatives have announced plans to implement a National Music Week to help encourage music participation in schools. And, as the BIG Lottery Fund announces its proposals following a public consultation, the NCA has responded with its thoughts on the themes and initiatives put forward.

This week, the NCA gave evidence to the Home Affairs Committee on the effect the new Points Based Immigration System is having on the cultural sector. A recent survey initiated by the Association on British Orchestras has found that arts events are more popular than sports during a recession and in Northern Ireland, Children Arts – Alive has launched a consultation into the new Children’s Arts Manifesto.

This week, the Immigration Minister was grilled about the Points Based System, the first of the Cultural Olympiad’s ten major projects was launched, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published findings from its pilot self assessment and peer review for maintained museums project and updated its Passion for Excellence.

This week the NCA led a delegation of arts representatives to meet Phil Woolas, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration; the House of Lords debated the effects of online piracy on the arts; Living Places produced a Culture and Sport planning toolkit for developers and local government authorities; and a reportcalling for changes to the National Curriculum was published.

This week, the NCA seeks your views on a new strategy for public art collections as proposed by the National Contemporary Art Collections Working Group, new visa fees and application forms have come into effect, the Government have announced a £3 million plan to revive town centres by encouraging community creativity, and tickets are still available for Future Britain, NCA’s national conference and arts manifesto launch event.

This week, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published a new report on the recommended shortage occupation lists for the UK and Scotland (sic.), the first report from the Culture and Learning Consortium was launched, and the final report of the review into the Primary School curriculum by Sir Jim Rose was published, as well as an inspection report on art, craft and design from Ofsted.

This week, the Government announced plans to create up to 10,000 jobs for young people in the creative industries while also accepting contemporary dancers and orchestral musicians as shortage occupations; the Arts Council of Wales published information on an Investment Review of their revenue funded clients; and the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee published a report on their inquiry of the Licensing Act.

This week, the NCA attended a meeting of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) Arts and Entertainment Task Force; Arts Council England has published the findings of their Theatre Assessment 2009; and the NCA has submitted responses to two separate consultations on the Primary Curriculum Review and the Planning Guidance for Arts Council Wales Investment Review.

This week, the Home Affairs Select Committee has published a report on their inquiry into the Points Based System; the NCA is seeking your views on its draft response to the MLA’s Museum Accreditation Consultation; ACE and MLA have collaborated with Sport England to re-launch the Active People Diagnostic online tool, now including cultural participation data and the NCA is looking for images to illustrate the next edition of nca news. We would also like to let you know that there will be no Friday Briefing next week, the Briefing will return from its summer holiday on Friday 21 August.

This week, a new report from Arts & Business brings hopeful news about individual donations to the arts; the government allocates its £3 million fund to encourage art in empty spaces and bidding is open for additional funding from Arts Council England; the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published new report on the points based system and the NCA has submitted a response to MLA’s Museum Accreditation consultation.

This week the NCA brings you useful checklist and guide from the UK Border Agency on visas and immigration, seeks your views on cultural provision in Wales and looks at the latest debate over the arts in education.

This week the NCA is pleased to be able to congratulate Will Gompertz on his new BBC appointment, we introduce you to Arts Council England’s new top team and we submit our response to the Welsh Assembly’s Cultural Duty consultation. We are also introducing a new element to the Friday Briefing. Each week we will ask our members a question linked to the week’s news and invite them to discuss it on our Facebook discussion board. The inaugural question, and the link to the discussion board, can be found below.

It’s a return to business as usual after a traditionally quiet August. This week sees DCMS publish plans for the proposed City of Culture Scheme. Arts Council England outlines its plans for the use of Artistic Assessments in deciding RFO funding. The UK Border Agency agrees enhancements to its immigration system IT and the Department for Children, School and Families launches the Year of Music.

With the effects of the recession still being felt in arts organisations across the country, this week the NCA scrutinises Arts Council England’s sustain awards. We have an update on the Arts Council of Wales’ Investment review and we bring you the latest news from the UK Border Agency about sponsorship rules and their latest consultation.

This week saw the return of Margaret Hodge to her former position as Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism as well as the announcement of cuts to the arts in Scotland. The NCA urges you to check your responsibilities as an employer and respond, in light of UKBA plans to implement identity cards for foreign workers. Also this week, the NCA responded to the Government consultation on the BBC Licence Fee to support regional news and the Arts Council England publish latest findings from their Taking Part survey.

This week we welcome the Arts Council of Wales new funding from the Assembly Government and ballet dancers retain their shortage occupation status. Elsewhere, the NCA has been invited to join Arts Council England’s new Investment Strategy External Reference Group and the National Skills Academy announces funding for up to 1125 new arts apprenticeships. Finally, NCA congratulates the winners of London 2012’s Artists taking the lead project.