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.

Cube Critics review ‘Drive-Away Dolls’ and ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’
Cube Critics discuss a quirky Ethan Coen film, “Drive-Away Dolls” and a unique adaptation of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” as a series; plus, performer Bill Irwin’s deep dive into Samuel Beckett’s legacy, connecting vaudeville to the playwright’s profound influence.
Visual symphony: Macalester hosts 'American Ledger'
“American Ledger no. 1” is based on a visual score by Raven Chacon that tells the story of America using unconventional instruments including chopping wood and lighting matches.
Review: ‘Hells Canyon’ at Theater Mu
“Hells Canyon,” premiered by Theater Mu in Minneapolis, looks at a historical crime as a horror story set in a remote Oregon cabin, echoing the vibe of classics like “Evil Dead.”
A prescription to modernize public health
The pandemic was a crucible for public health. What are the key takeaways? Epidemiologist Dr. Sandro Galea offers his diagnosis and a prescription for public health going forward in his new book, “Within Reason: A Liberal Public Health for an Illiberal Time.”
Our dedicated reviewers offer 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. Join us as we celebrate the diversity of expression and the powerful stories told through art in our communities, brought to you by the passionate voices of the MPR News Arts Team.
Review: ‘On Beckett’ at the Guthrie
Bill Irwin, an acclaimed American actor with a deep history of engaging with Samuel Beckett’s works, both on and off Broadway, is currently presenting “On Beckett” at the Guthrie Theater.
New book tells untold story of Eliza Winston, an enslaved woman’s battle for freedom in Minnesota
St. Cloud State University Professor Christopher P. Lehman shares the struggle for freedom of Eliza Winston, who escaped her captors in 1860 while traveling with them in the free state of Minnesota.
Art Hounds: The scent of art, the poetry of Bly, Gilbert and Sullivan
“Do Not Forget Us:” Poets, Writers and Musicians Against the War(s), Cheryl LeClaire-Sommers' exhibit “Scents to Scenes” and Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Utopia, Limited; or, The Flowers of Progress.”
Sloane Crosley mourns her best friend in ‘Grief Is for People’
Russell Perreault hired Crosley when she was 25 and the two became very close. He died by suicide in 2019. Her first full-length book of nonfiction is a noteworthy addition to the literature of grief.
Airplane peanuts and cigarette butts: Interactive art at the Weisman
‘The Other Four’ is an interactive exhibition at the Weisman Art Museum, showcasing 16 unique artworks by over 21 contemporary artists. This exhibition emphasizes engaging the senses beyond sight.