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.

Art Hounds: Remembering Denomie
In this week’s Art Hounds: The Bakken Ensemble; “The Last Flapper” on Zelda Fitzgerald; and work by Dougie Padilla about his friendship with the late Jim Denomie.
Arts leader returns: Mohannad Ghawanmeh to lead Public Art St. Paul
Mohannad Ghawanmeh, a filmmaker and cinema scholar with a deep history in Minnesota’s arts scene, has been named the new president and executive director of Public Art St. Paul.
‘Lilith’ cuts to the heart of the gun debate and school shootings
Eric Rickstad’s novel is full of sadness and rage; it forces readers to look at one of the ugliest parts of U.S. culture, a too-common occurrence that is extremely rare in other countries.
Northeast Minneapolis lizard sculpture smashed in car crash
A beloved northeast Minneapolis sculpture took a hit this weekend when a car drove off the road and crashed into it. “Lizard Lounge” dwells on the lawn of East Side Neighborhood Services. The Minneapolis Police Department said a car crashed into the sculpture just before 3 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Minnesota journalist featured in ‘Quiet on Set,’ bombshell docuseries on alleged abuse at Nickelodeon
Rick Ellis is the founder of the online publication “All Your Screens.” His reporting on Nickelodeon studios landed him on the new docuseries “Quiet on Set.”