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.

Art Hounds: Outdoor opera and a one-person show with a rotating cast
Art Hounds recommend the one-person play “Naive Super” at Norway House, in which the actor changes with every performance. Mixed Precipitation’s Pickup Truck Opera wraps up its traveling summer performances of Charles Gounod’s opera “Romeo and Juliet” at several outdoor metro locations. 
Then and now at the State Fair: Architecture of the miniature city
Think of the Minnesota State Fair as a miniature city. Like a city, the fairgrounds have been built up over more than 150 years, with different architecture styles.
How to build a legacy: The late artist Jim Denomie at Mia and beyond
Jim Denomie, an Ojibwe painter who died in 2022, was originally planning a mid-career exhibit with the Minneapolis Institute of Art; his work primarily focused on social injustices and Native communities, and the posthumous exhibit has now become a comprehensive tribute to his legacy.