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.

Banned Books: Author Jerry Craft on telling stories all kids can identify with
Jerry Craft published the Newbury award-winning graphic novel New Kid in 2019. The novel focuses on the experience of being Black and the "new kid" at a predominantly white school.
Musicians use rhythm and harmony to heal America's toxic divide
These days, as polarization reaches deep into American life, some musicians are trying to stay out of the fray and use their music to bridge divides.
After the Club Q shooting, drag queens say they're upping security measures
Drag has grown in visibility in recent years as a way to celebrate gender fluidity and self-expression, especially among the LGBTQ community and its allies. That's made it a target of the right wing.
Where to hear music in the Twin Cities on New Year’s Eve
As we close the book on 2022, here are 10 music events throughout the Twin Cities to celebrate the start of 2023. For even more New Year’s Eve options, check The Current’s Gig List for additional shows you can take in on Dec. 31.
Ask a Bookseller: 'Inheritance'
Nathan McDowell of Two Dollar Radio Headquarters — an indie bookstore and press in Columbus, Ohio — recommends Taylor Johnson’s poetry book “Inheritance.”
How to share your favorites with loved ones — and have everyone go home happy
As families gather for the holidays, you may find yourself talking television, film, books or podcasts. Pop culture critic Linda Holmes — who shares her favorite things for a living — has some tips.
Jane Smiley on her new novel, 'A Dangerous Business'
Two young prostitutes become uneasy when several women in their dangerous line of work disappear. Jane Smiley’s new novel follows them as they try to solve the murders in 1850s California.
Marcie Rendon's long journey to award-winning novelist
Writer Marcie Rendon lived a lot before she got her first novel published. Now the White Earth Member has released three books in the award-winning Cash Blackbear series. Recently, she visited the Bemidji Public Library in northwest Minnesota, to read and to talk about the history, locations and experiences behind the books.