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.

5 mysteries and thrillers new this fall
It's almost Halloween — and, anyway, fall is always a great time for mysteries and thrillers. Here are a few we recommend.
'Land of Milk and Honey' depicts a future without the pleasure of food
In C Pam Zhang’s long-awaited second novel, a young Asian chef finds herself cooking for the uber-rich on a mountaintop in Italy, one of the last places on Earth where crops still grow.
Cube Critics attend haunted houses
Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Max Sparber attend haunted houses.
MEA weekend: Things to do on staycation in Minnesota
For families not traveling this MEA weekend, there are plenty of activities closer to home in Minnesota that will keep the kids entertained while they’re out of school.
Advocates hope new Twin Cities zine fest kindles interest in queer, trans art
Zines — small, self-published magazines — have long offered a way to connect people around specific interests, especially in the arts. Thanks to a Twin Cities archivist, the first Midwest Queer & Trans Zine Fest will debut this weekend in Minneapolis.
Art Hounds: 'Uncle Vanya,' but make it hilarious
It’s a Minnesota music double music feature on Art Hounds this week. The Winona Symphony Orchestra performs, featuring Minnesota composer Libby Larsen. The Bakken Ensemble celebrates the bassoon. And “Life Sucks” at the Open Eye Theatre in Minneapolis.
Smashing: The artists behind the pumpkins at the Minnesota Zoo
The Minnesota Zoo hosts an annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, where local artists carve intricate designs into thousands of pumpkins. Managed by Brian Christensen, the workshop produces up to 8,000 pumpkins each year, with a focus on wildlife themes.
Patty Wetterling shares her story in new memoir 'Dear Jacob'
For the past 34 years, Patty Wetterling has been the face of the tragedy, the search and the hope through it all. Now, she is sharing her story in a new book.