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.

Flagbearer: Minnesota Iranian artist wins national visual arts prize
Minnesota-based Iranian artist Ziba Rajabi has won the inaugural $20,000 DAG Prize for Visual Arts to create “Kotál,” a large-scale fabric installation rooted in Persian mourning rituals that honors women who died pursuing freedom and continues her exploration of grief, memory and cultural displacement.
Billy Joel says he's 'OK' and not 'deathly ill' after receiving brain disorder diagnosis
Billy Joel is doing much better, the “Piano Man” singer wants fans to know. In May, Joel canceled all upcoming concerts across North America and England after being diagnosed with fluid buildup in his brain that has affected his “hearing, vision and balance.”
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 'Cosby Show' actor, dies at 54 in Costa Rica drowning
Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has died at 54. He was known for playing Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show.” Costa Rican authorities report he drowned Sunday afternoon at Playa Cocles on the Caribbean coast.
Where to start? This week’s new releases are an all-you-can-read buffet
This week, new horror from Silvia Moreno-Garcia, a funny college do-over from Jeneva Rose, and autofiction from Hannah Pittard. Plus, stories about the American South, and a deep dive into the Earth.
Isaac Thompson named president and CEO of Minnesota Orchestra
Isaac Thompson, a Twin Cities native and current head of the Oregon Symphony, has been named president and CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra, returning to lead the organization he grew up attending.
Joy Harjo bends time with her poetry to honor her mother's death
In her book, “Washing my Mother’s Body,” Joy Harjo bends time with her poetry to return to what she deems an essential ritual of love and dignity to honor her mother’s passing.