Two reports have been published this week examining the role of the creative and cultural sectors in society.

The BBC Trust published The BBC’s Strategy: Putting Quality First on Tuesday 14 December. The strategy is the final conclusions of the Trust’s review of BBC’s services that has been conducted since July 2009.

Plans for the Government’s philanthropy scheme were set out by the Secretary of State for Culture, Jeremy Hunt, in a speech at the European Association for Philanthropy and Giving (EAPG)’s annual conference on Wednesday 8 December.

The first commissions have been announced for the London 2012 Festival; the 12 week festival that is the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad.

National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) have created the first ever map of the UK’s creative industries as part of the research for their report Creative Clusters and Innovation.

Applications are open to appear on the 2011-12 permit-free festivals list.

On Monday 29 November, the Minister for Culture and the Creative Industries, Ed Vaizey, announced plans to restructure the UK film industry.

The winter edition of nca newswill be published in January. The theme for this edition is ‘New Year, new ways of working’. We are looking for a front cover image that conveys this idea.

Hatfield Conferences on the Arts; David Brownlee, Audiences UK

On Tuesday, the Home Secretary, Theresa May announced a 21,700 cap on the number of skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area allowed into the UK.

The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee continues its inquiry into arts and heritage funding with a fifth session of oral evidence.

From April, the Office for National Statistics will ask people to rate their own well-being with the first official happiness index due in 2012.

Drama & Theatre manifesto steering group; Cultural Learning Alliance Conference, The Big Link Up; launch of the King James Bible 400th anniversary; discussed the existence of a god (or not) with Nick Starr

Monday, 13 December. Book now to reserve a place.

This event has been put together by the Culture Forum and the National Campaign for the Arts in association with the University of East Anglia, London and City University, London.

Robin Simpson, Voluntary Arts; Baroness Lola Young; Trinity College London National Professional Performing Arts Diplomas; Peter Stark, Swallows Partnership; Alex Hudson, E8 radio; A&B Awards; Radio 4 You & Yours programme; Jocelyn Cunningham, RSA.

On Monday the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published its business plan.

It was announced this week that on Wednesday 15 December 2010 the CMS Committee will take evidence on the new BBC licence fee settlement.

Mayor of London’s Music Event at LSO St Luke’s; Ivan Lewis MP; Amy Turton, Arts Council England; Paul Hamlyn Foundation Awards.

Last Tuesday, John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning gave a talk at the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA).

The NCA has submitted its written response to the Government’s independent review into the funding and delivery of Music Education, conducted by Classic FM Chief Executive, Darren Henley.