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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.

From crayons to Capitol advocacy, a Minnesota flag enthusiast nears moment of triumph

From crayons to Capitol advocacy, a Minnesota flag enthusiast nears moment of triumph

Lee Herold was preaching good flag design long before anyone was even listening. Now, a state commission is about to choose a new Minnesota state flag. Herold, who owns a flag store in Rochester, said he's glad everyone is finally taking flag design seriously.
by Catharine Richert

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Miyazaki's 'The Boy and the Heron' is No. 1 at the box office, a first for the Japanese anime master

Miyazaki's 'The Boy and the Heron' is No. 1 at the box office, a first for the Japanese anime master

Japanese anime master Hayao Miyazaki’s is No. 1 at the North American box office for the first time in his decades-spanning career. According to studio estimates Miyazaki’s latest enchanting film “The Boy and the Heron” debuted with $12.8 million. 
by The Associated Press

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Ask a Bookseller: ‘The Maniac’

Ask a Bookseller: ‘The Maniac’

Chris Miller of Broadway Books in Portland, Ore., recommends the novel “The Maniac” by Benjamín Labatut.
by Emily Bright

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4 coffee table art books from 2023 that are a visual feast

4 coffee table art books from 2023 that are a visual feast

This group ranges from a fabulous collection by contemporary, neurodiverse artists to Milton Glaser's pop art, and Aino and Alvar Aalto's Finnish modernist designs to a survey of Islamic architecture.
by Heller McAlpin

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Rethinking roads

Rethinking roads

In his new book “Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet,” environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb illustrates how roads that are helpful for humans can be disastrous for wildlife. How can we design transportation that’s good for all?
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Why your brain finds Spotify Wrapped so irresistible

Why your brain finds Spotify Wrapped so irresistible

Spotify Wrapped endures despite privacy concerns surrounding the data it collects from users. But experts say our continued excitement around the year-end aggregation is in our human nature.
by Claire Murashima

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