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.

Warm weather melts some outdoor fun in Twin Cities
Minneapolis and St. Paul are closing non-refrigerated rinks to skaters. Meanwhile the organizers of the Art Shanty Projects on Lake Harriet encourage visitors, as they monitor conditions.
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Eyes and the Impossible'
Greg Danz of Zandbroz Variety in Fargo, N.D., adds his hearty recommendation to the list, calling it a wonderful book for the whole family.
Cube Critics discuss ‘Echo’ and ‘Wild At Heart’
Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss “Echo” and “Wild At Heart.” Plus a Cube Critics extra: An interview with the Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Gary Batton.
Actor Timothee Chalamet visits Minnesota, surprises Hibbing High School theater students
Actor Timothee Chalamet was in town for a Bob Dylan tour of Hibbing, where the songwriter grew up. The tour included a stop at the high school’s stage, a 1920s-style, 1800-seat theater where Dylan performed as a student. 
Tracy K. Smith delivers a plea for the American soul
Former poet laureate Tracy K. Smith shares a deeply personal portrait of her family, America’s history and her path to sobriety in “To Free the Captives.”
Skate punk ceramics: Tetsuya Yamada at Walker Art Center
Tetsuya Yamada's exhibit “Listening” at the Walker Art Center blends traditional ceramics with skate punk culture, reflecting his unique artistic journey.
Frozen masterpieces: Ice sculptures at the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Pearson’s “Veiled Lady” is one of ten ice sculptures by Minnesota Ice on view starting Thursday for Mia’s “Minneapolis Institute of Ice” event. The sculptures will be on view in the museum courtyard through Feb. 4, weather permitting.