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.

September 23, 2022 12:00 PM

How art and poetry inspired Maggie O'Farrell's new novel

Full of the beauty and drama she used to bring to life the Shakespearean story of “Hamnet,” Maggie O’Farrell turns to Renaissance Italy in her new novel, “The Marriage Portrait,” where she paints a picture of a resilient young girl trying to avoid being killed by her new husband.

by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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September 22, 2022 4:00 AM

Art Hounds: Iranian music lights up the Ordway and Lanesboro's history in three plays

Art Hounds recommend the music of The Ensemble Aras in a concert featuring Minnesota musicians. Lanesboro’s History Alive! stages a combination pop-up play and walking tour, and a Minneapolis book launch features well-known authors and a comedian.

by Jacob Aloi and Emily Bright

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September 21, 2022 10:49 AM

'Lucy By The Sea' succeeds at capturing disruptions, anxieties of pandemic

Elizabeth Strout's latest is a chronicle of a plague year — and also of the main character's growing insights into herself, her family, and their changing relationships during this period.

by Heller McAlpin

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September 21, 2022 8:58 AM

American theater is changing — here's why

In the first of our six-part series, NPR's Bob Mondello explains how the theater that most Americans see is being transformed.

by Bob Mondello

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September 20, 2022 2:00 PM

From the archives: Lauren Groff discusses 'Matrix' at Talking Volumes

This Friday’s Big Books and Bold Ideas will feature a conversation with Maggie O’Farrell, whose new book “The Marriage Portrait,” is set in 16th century Italy. That’s not unlike Lauren Groff’s 2021 hit, “Matrix,” which plays out in medieval France. So for this week’s deep cut, enjoy Groff talking with MPR News host Kerri Miller at last year’s Talking Volumes.

by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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September 20, 2022 10:00 AM

Minnesota author Peter Geye on his new book 'The Ski Jumpers'

Peter Geye’s new novel tells the story of an athlete who is pushed by a grim medical diagnosis to reveal a secret past he might soon forget.

by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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September 19, 2022 5:25 AM

New report finds a coordinated rise in attempted book bans

According to PEN America, a growing number of local political and advocacy groups have focused their attacks on books featuring LGBTQ+ characters and characters of color.

by Andrew Limbong

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September 17, 2022 4:50 PM

Ask a Bookseller: an award-winning graphic novel, soon to be a series

"American Born Chinese" by prolific cartoonist Gene Luen Yang was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award back in 2006. Disney released a first look at an 8-episode series based on the novel, starring Michelle Yeoh, among other big-name actors.

by Emily Bright