Arts and Culture

MPR News has you covered with news and stories about local art and culture happenings across Minnesota.

Art Hounds: Art Hounds are members of the Minnesota arts community who look beyond their own work to highlight what's exciting in local art. You can explore arts events here, or become an Art Hound today.

Art Reviews: Our arts team offers insight on the latest in theater, music, visual arts and more. We explore the breadth of creativity and innovation found throughout Minnesota, offering audiences a deeper understanding of the works and artists shaping our cultural landscape. Read more here.

Art Friend: Everyone needs an art friend. Art Friend is a new segment with our arts team. Art spaces can feel exclusive and art can be confusing, obtuse, and even boring. But, especially with the right context, everyone can be a critic. So let us be your guide- your Art Friend. Listen or read Art Friend stories here.

Our arts coverage is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

3 spring novels star trad wives, grown-up boy band fans, and a pregnant septuagenarian
Looking for a read that's complicated, gutsy and entertaining? Maureen Corrigan recommends “Yesteryear,” by Caro Claire Burke; “American Fantasy,” by Emma Straub; and “Enormous Wings,” by Laurie Frankel.
Investing in the arts pays off in southwest Minnesota
Small Minnesota towns are seeing big returns on their investments into the arts. This story on arts in southwest Minnesota is the first part in an MPR News series on how art shapes rural economies.
See the looks from the 2026 Met Gala red carpet
Extravagantly dressed celebrities and designers made their way up the famous Met staircase Monday evening. The fundraiser is one of the fashion industry’s biggest nights.
MPR News arts reporters on covering Minnesota music, theater and the arts
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with MPR News arts and culture reporters about shows and exhibits you won’t want to miss, and some of the challenges facing Minnesota arts organizations.
Ask a Bookseller: ‘The Lilac People’ by Milo Todd
Sophia Terry of Bank Street Books in Mystic, CT, recommends “The Lilac People" by Milo Todd.
Lush nature and fathomless loss coexist in 'Under Water'
The underwater world that Tara Menon creates in her new novel is wonderous and immersive. She joins Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas to talk about nature and friendship and loss, and how to write without cliches or sentimentality.