Benefits of Membership

The NCA supports its members through the provision of a range of services and advice. Please read below to see how becoming a NCA member could help you.

Lobbying and advocacy

This forms the backbone of all NCA activity. Using its well established links across government and the arts the NCA is able to take its members' views to the people who matter - through meetings, delegations to Ministers and written responses - and use its influence to effect real change.

Please click to read about current successes and current and past campaigns.

Information papers

The world of government is ever changing, with responsibilities of government departments shifting, new bills being proposed and policy changes occurring at both central and regional levels. Keeping abreast of such changes can be demanding, particularly for arts practitioners and arts organisations.

The NCA's highly skilled campaigns team scrutinises government policy, at central and local levels, and across all departments, to identify changes which may impact upon the arts. It then distils these policies into succinct briefing papers for its members - ensuring that they receive concise, relevant and well-researched information to enable them to safeguard their own future development.

Regular news updates

Information is power. This well known maxim is one in which the NCA firmly believes . It uses its weekly email bulletin to keep members abreast of its activity and of significant developments in the arts and political sectors, and to actively seek member involvement in its campaigns.

Research and publications

The NCA and its sister organisation NCARE are well-respected for their analytical and relevant research and information. The NCA specialises in collating and analysing information and data, which it then disseminates to its members to enable to them make the case for the arts. Its own in-house publications, including its quarterly magazine NCA News, investigate broad issues affecting the arts in depth - presenting a range of viewpoints to from policy makers, funders and practitioners to present an informed and detailed picture.

NCA website

The NCA website is an information tool designed to provide details of NCA activity past and present and to equip NCA members with the facts and figures that they need to effectively safeguard their own futures. Research, response papers and information briefings are posted on the members only section of the site making it an invaluable resource on current and past issues affecting the arts.

Regional advocacy groups

The NCA believes in the arts speaking with one voice but also celebrates the diversity which underpins the sector. To give a voice to regional issues and concerns the NCA organises annual, region-based advocacy seminars for its members to facilitate the sharing of information, debating of key issues and to encourage collaboration and partnership working.

Seminars and workshops

The NCA's lobbying and advocacy work is often delivered through seminars and workshops at which senior arts and political figures present and are questioned on the issues which matter most to NCA members.

National conference

The NCA organises national conferences on issues which impact across all of the arts, such as the general elections and spending reviews. Such events are held in high profile arts venues and offer the opportunity to hear speeches by senior officials and decision makers from the arts and political sectors, as well as meeting with fellow arts professionals and practitioners from across the UK.

Networking opportunities

The NCA is made up of a body of arts practitioners, professionals, participants, supporters and enthusiasts from across all art forms and boundaries. It is a truly diverse network brought together through a shared passion of and belief in the arts. NCA membership provides the opportunity to network across this group - be it regionally at advocacy seminars or nationally at conferences - and with this possibilities for enhanced professional development and collaboration with others working within the sector.

Concessions to member venues

Many of the NCA members offer concessionary rates to their venues for those with a valid NCA membership card. Click here for a full listing or contact the NCA direct if you wish for your venue to join this scheme.

"The NCA is one of the few national organisations which seems to take care of and do tremendous work for all branches of the arts."

Richard Wilson, Actor