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.

These Alaska moms couldn’t find a Yup’ik children’s book. So they made one themselves
Yup’ik is the most spoken Native language in Alaska, but finding Yup’ik books for young children can be almost impossible. These moms created their own — and now they’re fielding nearly 1,000 orders.
Bad news: Summer’s over. Good news: Fall books are here! We’ve got a list of 16 titles — fiction and nonfiction — you’ll want to look out for.
It’s a wrap: Fans say ‘Miigwech’ for ‘Star Wars’ in Ojibwe
The newly dubbed film is a collaboration between LucasFilm, the University of Manitoba and the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council in Manitoba. It first premiered in Canada last month.
Hip-hop artist Fatman Scoop dies at 53 after collapsing on stage
The hip-hop artist was known for his breakout track “Be Faithful” in the early 2000s and for lending his gravelly voice to hits by Missy Elliott and Ciara. The cause of his death was unclear.
A new version of the 1977 Star Wars features a dub in a Native American language
A new version of the 1977 classic STAR WARS movie opens in Minnesota Theaters. And "the force be with you" will sound different. The dubbed-over version is in Ojibwe, the indigenous language of one of the largest Native American tribes in the United States.
New Horizons: The Cactus Blossoms and the art of George Morrison
The Cactus Blossoms released a new album, “Every Time I Think About You,” featuring artwork by Minnesota artist George Morrison, whose work reflects themes in the album.
Donor's note trashing design of pillars he funded at London's National Gallery is found
Lord Sainsbury didn’t like the design of the wing his family funded. He paid for it though, and slipped a 1990 letter into a pillar during construction. Construction workers found it 33 years later.
Cube Critics discuss 'Alien: Romulus' and an Ojibwe language 'Star Wars'
Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Melissa Olson discuss a movie about a corporation that has taken over the world and a movie from a galaxy, far far away — but in a language much closer to home.