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.

Heather Cox Richardson on 'Democracy Awakening'
This week, Big Books and Bold Ideas is launching an election year series that asks: What is American democracy in 2024? Our first guest is historian Heather Cox Richardson, whose latest book is “Democracy Awakening.”
Minneapolis artist sings her family’s immigration history
Sarah Larsson’s new ensemble Red Thread has released a debut album “Immigrantke” that combines traditional and original music in four languages, exploring stories of immigration.
Allegations of toxic work environment shake Minneapolis Institute of Art
Current and former employees and artists who’ve long supported Mia say the recent firing of a popular curator is forcing years of internal turmoil to the surface and shaking the world-renowned institution to its core.
A grieving Palestinian, an Irish artist and the mural that brought them together
Artist Emmalene Blake's mural on the wall of a Dublin pub became an iconic image of Gaza's grief. Then one day, she got an Instagram message from the Palestinian woman in the image.
'Splinters' is a tribute to the love of a mother for a daughter
In different variations of her signature, beautifully frank language, Leslie Jamison writes about her fantasy of stability and her uncertainty as to whether it's a dream she actually wants fulfilled.
Atom bomb epic ‘Oppenheimer’ won seven prizes, including best picture, director and actor, at the 77th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, cementing its front-runner status for the Oscars next month.
Ask a Bookseller: ‘Yours Truly’
Rachel Harris of Four Pines Bookstore in Bemidji recommends one with a local setting and a lot of feels: “Yours Truly” by Abby Jimenez.