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.

Harry Belafonte, activist and entertainer, dies at 96
Harry Belafonte, the civil rights and entertainment giant who began as a groundbreaking actor and singer and became an activist, humanitarian and conscience of the world, has died. He was 96.
Ask a Bookseller: 'The God of Endings'
Josh Hames recommends local writer Jacqueline Holland, new novel, "The God of Endings." It's an unconventional vampire story, Hames says, that's a "genuinely felt human tale as much as it is inhuman."
Record Store Day 2023 events in the Twin Cities and around Minnesota
Record Store Day’s vinyl exclusives routinely get all the headlines, but the day is truly about celebrating — and preserving — our beloved local record shops while bringing together the community of dedicated music fans who support them.
Encore presentation: Science journalist Ed Yong on how animals sense the world
Animal Month on Big Books and Bold Ideas wouldn’t be complete without an encore presentation of a conversation host Kerri Miller had last year with award-winning science journalist Ed Yong. His book, “An Immense World,” looks at how different animals see the world, based on their unique sensory abilities.
Arts Briefs: Printmaking guru bids adieu
In this week’s arts briefs: Cole Rogers retires from Highpoint Center; Candy Box Dance Festival; Black millionaire, arts patron, died; Minnesota author publishes new fantasy novel, Record Store Day; virtual meeting for artists with disabilities: Absolute Bleeding Edge: breathing through a saxophone.
Art Hounds: Evan Abrahamson's dreamy landscapes
Art Hounds recommend Evan Abrahamson’s landscapes, an educational exhibit called “Child in a Strange Country” and The Classical Music Project's debut.