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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.

Ask a Bookseller: a graphic novel about a life-changing journey

This week’s recommendation comes from Qwultultun Robert Goldsmith of Strong Nations, an indigenous-owned bookstore and publisher on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
by Emily Bright

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Anatoly Liberman on the origins of English idioms

Anatoly Liberman on the origins of English idioms

Some idioms need no explanation. Sayings like “put it on the back burner” or “don’t rain on my parade” follow common sense. But what about phrases like “drink like a fish” or “by hook or by crook”?
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Purrfection reigns at St. Paul's Saintly City Cat Show

Purrfection reigns at St. Paul's Saintly City Cat Show

A look at the Saintly City Cat Club Annual Championship Cat Show, where local and national cat fanciers compete to show which cat is more purrfect.
by Alex V. Cipolle

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Seasoned Love: Theatre 55 offers a production of 'Rent' with an older cast

Seasoned Love: Theatre 55 offers a production of 'Rent' with an older cast

Theatre 55, which features cast members aged 55 and up, takes a look at Jonathan Larson’s “Rent.” The musical is set during the AIDS crisis and looks at a bohemian community in Manhattan — stories that many in the cast share and even lived.
by Jacob Aloi

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2023 Grammy Awards: The full list of nominees

2023 Grammy Awards: The full list of nominees

Across 91 categories, the nominations for the 65th Grammy Awards were led by Beyoncé, who is up for nine awards, and Kendrick Lamar, with eight.

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5 YA books this winter dealing with identity and overcoming hardships

5 YA books this winter dealing with identity and overcoming hardships

The pale daylight and early darkness of winter create a space for stories — in particular for stories that ask the reader to mull themes and ideas that can sometimes be difficult.
by Caitlyn Paxson

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'It Hurts' so good: Bad Bad Hats release 10th anniversary edition of first EP

'It Hurts' so good: Bad Bad Hats release 10th anniversary edition of first EP

A Twin Cities favorite: Bad Bad Hats are not shy to embrace the nostalgia of their early recordings. So much so that the “It Hurts (10th Anniversary Edition)” EP includes demo tracks laced with kazoos, happy-go-lucky whistling, never-heard-before verses and ultra-scratchy guitar tracks.

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