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The John O'Connor Writing School and Literary Arts Festival has announced the end of a three year run. Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Head of Literature Damian Smyth expressed sadness at the school's closure: "The Arts Council was indeed delighted to support the weekend festival for three years and the level of funding was significant for a new initiative ... unfortunately, other funders and sponsorship couldn't reach sufficient levels to make the festival sustainable."

Several art treasures collectively worth up to €1bn were stolen from the German institution in the early hours of Monday morning. Intruders broke in through a ground floor window, then used an axe to smash a display case in the Jewel Room. German newspaper Bild reported that this may be the largest post-war art theft in history.

The event in Redruth saw arts and creative industries professionals speaking up for the self-employed artists in the county who are living in “impoverished conditions”. Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle said "We need to turn this country into a creative environment where we can all grow, all thrive, and all make a living doing what we love."

Falconer Museum trustees say a dispute with Moray Council is “heading towards litigation unless wiser counsel prevails”. The council cut the museum's £80,000 annual funding earlier this year, and the museum was expected to close at the end of October. Three of its trustees - the only trustees independent of the council - argue the council would be in breach of a 1996 agreement if it does not continue to "manage, administer and finance" the museum.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group, the National Theatre, international producer GWB Entertainment, Australian promoter TEG Dainty and global company Base Entertainment have claimed they are collectively owed the money by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Chief Executive James Cundall for international tours of four productions: The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Matilda and War Horse. All six companies owned by Lunchbox, including five overseas outfits, are about to enter or are already in administration. A Lunchbox spokesperson blamed its failings on "a number of factors including civil riots in Hong Kong, a terrorist massacre in New Zealand, competitive programming in Singapore, and consumer uncertainty due to Brexit in the UK, all of which have devastated ticket sales".

The company has joined a growing list of institutions that no longer want the Duke of York as their patron after he defended his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A source at the English National Ballet told The Times trustees and staff fear continued association with Prince Andrew will hurt the organisation's reputation: "Everyone is hoping that it can be resolved without requiring collective discussion ... but at some point it will require that discussion if he does not stand down. The trouble is he has a thick skin and I am sure he would be reluctant to."

Campaigners say MathsAlive!, an interactive exhibit aimed at children aged seven and up, promotes its presenter, arms manufacturer Raytheon. Several human rights groups have alleged its weapons are being used by Saudi-led forces against Yemeni citizens. Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade says the RAF Museum "should not be providing [Raytheon] with a marketing platform to airbrush its long history of fuelling atrocities and arming dictatorships". The company and museum have defended their partnership, saying the exhibit is educational "regardless of ideology".