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.

Behind the (animal) mask: Liz Sexton elevates papier-mâché to high art 
Liz Sexton creates lifelike papier-mâché animal masks and sculptures for her solo exhibition "Liz Sexton: Out of Water" at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, highlighting environmental issues through her unique art form.
How dogs become themselves and other wonders of puppyhood
Animal Month on Big Books and Bold Ideas ends with an encore presentation of host Kerri Miller’s conversation with dog researcher Alexandra Horowitz who literally wrote the book on puppies.
Stages of memory: Guthrie Theater celebrates 60 years
The Guthrie Theater is celebrating its 60th anniversary, reflecting on its history and impact on the lives of artists. Established with the vision of producing shows on par with Broadway, the theater has played a significant role in shaping careers and personal connections.
Q&A: Playwright Itamar Moses discusses his adaptation of 'An American Tail'
The Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis premieres Itamar Moses' adaptation of “An American Tail,” a story of immigration and community organizing, which explores Jewish resilience and the paradoxical way in which the very specific can feel universal.
A playwright and a rabbi on the effect of explicitly Jewish characters in children's stories
In the 1986 animated children’s movie “An American Tail,” the Mousekewicz family, who are mice, flee religious persecution in Russia and come to America. It's a story of immigration and community organizing — and it's now a timely new musical playing at the Minnesota Children's Theater Company in Minneapolis.
Opportunities and hope behind bars
People who are incarcerated are less likely to return to jail or prison if they have access to education and arts programs. MPR News host Angela Davis highlights Minnesota programs bringing education, the arts and hope to people behind bars.
This May the Fourth, Carrie Fisher gets Walk of Fame star
Carrie Fisher is receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a May the Fourth tribute to one of the “Star Wars” franchise’s most beloved characters.