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.

What to know about the 'Barbenheimer' double feature frenzy
After months of inescapable marketing, viral memes and crossover merch, two of the year's most anticipated movies hit theaters on Friday. Here's why so many people want to see both — and how to prep.
How Jason Aldean's 'Try That in a Small Town' became a political controversy
The country music star is known for his songs about rural life, but critics, especially those on the left of the political spectrum, say his latest music video takes the nostalgic themes too far.
Pipestone carvers preserve revered Native spiritual tradition in Minnesota prairie
Under the tall prairie grass outside this southwestern Minnesota town lies a precious seam of dark red pipestone that, for thousands of years, Native Americans have quarried and carved into pipes essential to prayer and communication with the Creator.
Local brass band transforms George Floyd Square with music
In the wake of the police murder of George Floyd in May 2020, Butchy Austin was looking for a way to grieve and connect to his south Minneapolis community. He dusted off his trumpet and walked from his home to the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, where Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. And he played.
Mankato-born singer Mary Jane Alm celebrates a storied musical career
Mary Jane Alm dipped a toe in the music business 50 years ago and since then has swept up numerous Minnesota Music Awards, including Artist of the Year, and inductions into the Mid-America and Minnesota Music Halls of Fame.
Southern Minnesota musicians and fans gather for workshops, concerts in second annual festival
The Minnesota Original Music Festival kicks off Wednesday and runs through Sunday, bringing together musicians in southern Minnesota for live performances and educational opportunities.
3 lessons past Hollywood strikes can teach us about the current moment
Hollywood actors and screenwriters are on strike simultaneously for the first time since 1960. When — and how — might things resolve this time? Experts tell NPR what recent history can teach us.
In 1963, she left Minneapolis for Mattel. She designed Barbie clothes for 35 years
Carol Spencer, a fashion designer from Minneapolis, spent 35 years designing outfits for Barbie. She drew inspiration from designer brands like Dior and Chanel, and believes Barbie has endured because people from different walks of life found their own connection to the doll.