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.

Looking for a chill? 'The Unveiling' is spooky, discomforting literary horror
There is no comfort or closure in Quan Barry’s latest novel, “The Unveiling,” which follows a group of tourists who get stranded off the coast of Antarctica after a kayaking expedition goes dreadfully wrong.
MN Shortlist: Holiday mischief And Minnesota traditions — 6 Picks For Dec. 12-18
This week, the options swing from sugarplum surges to noir-tinged radio chaos to a rock opera still sparking after 50 years.
The art of movidas: New book looks at how Minnesota Latina/x artists resist oppression
A new book traces a decade of Latina/x arts activism in the Twin Cities, revealing the artists who have been quietly safeguarding their communities and reshaping the region’s cultural future.
Duluth musical mainstays Alan Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles team up to perform new songs in St. Paul
Thursday night’s sold-out show at the Fitzgerald Theater is the only date the musicians have scheduled in Minnesota. They’re performing songs from their self-titled album released over the summer. 
Maureen Corrigan’s 10 favorite books of 2025 — with plenty for nonfiction lovers
Fresh Air’s book critic says her picks tilt a bit to nonfiction, but the novels that made the cut redress the imbalance by their sweep and intensity. Karen Russell’s “The Antidote” was her favorite.