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.

Ask a Bookseller: ‘The Women’s House of Detention’
Halee Kirkwood of Birchbark Books in Minneapolis says one of their favorite books from this year is “The Women’s House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison” by Hugh Ryan.
'Day' is a sad story of middle-aged disillusionment
Michael Cunningham’s “Day” joins a new wave of pandemic novels, including Ann Patchett's “Tom Lake,” Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel's “Dayswork” and Sigrid Nunez's “The Vulnerables”
Minnesota artists create online petition for Gaza cease-fire
Minneapolis musician Jeremy Messersmith leads a petition effort among Minnesota artists, calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
André 3000 opens up about 'New Blue Sun,' his daring new solo album
Out now, the outrageous half of OutKast about talks his first album in 17 years, his wild ayahuasca trip and why he gets so many requests to play flute at funerals.
Tour the galaxy with the 'Bad Astronomer'
In his new book, Philip Plait — aka the Bad Astronomer — takes space fans on a vivid tour of the cosmos, with stops on planets, moons, stars and even black holes. (Spoiler: That last one doesn’t end well.)
Materials and power: Artist investigates labor rights and solidarity in textile exhibition
In an exhibit, Minneapolis artist Rachel Breen highlights the labor rights of garment workers and the issues of overconsumption and fast fashion, incorporating textile works, a site-specific wall drawing, and reflections on historical garment industry tragedies, all aimed at emphasizing solidarity and collective power.