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.

Against the odds: How Blondie shattered the conventions of punk and pop
From unreleased music to promotional flyers, photos, a mirrored dressing room sign, and even a stray Andy Warhol print, Blondie's out with a new box set, Blondie: Against The Odds 1974-1982.
Fair fans flock through the gates as Minnesota State Fair begins its 12-day run
Crowds started filling the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Thursday. Whether they're there to exhibit livestock, catch a concert or try some of the dozens of new food and drink concoctions, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend this year's fair.
Art Hounds: Otter Tail county teens document return of ‘normal life’; North Mankato painter’s landscapes honor Minnesota 
Teens ask what it means to “Return to Normal?” in their multimedia show at Otter Tail Historical Society in Fergus Falls, Minn. Northfield-based professors and bandmates mix clever lyrics and sampled styles on their new kids’ album “The Greats.” North Mankato landscape painter Andrew Judkins’ solo show runs through this weekend at Owatonna Arts Center.
Kautz calls the stylistically innovative novel “part family drama, part ghost story, part coming-of-age and critique of American imperialism in the Pacific.”
What happens in our brains when we hear our favorite songs
Hearing your favorite song can put you in a great mood and get you ready for your day. But what is happening in your brain when you listen to music? Guest host Catharine Richert spoke about the healing power of our favorite songs, and how music is connected to mental health.
From the archives: Dan Buettner on how to live the longest, healthiest life
Dan Buettner's specialty is Blue Zones — communities where people live the longest, healthiest lives on the planet. It mirrors the conversation coming on Friday’s Big Books and Bold Ideas, which explores the latest science on aging detailed in Morgan Levine’s new book, “True Age: Cutting-Edge Research to Help Turn Back the Clock.”
Her work teems with unreliable narrators, settings that feel like characters, and surprising plot twists--key elements of modern mysteries now.
Debut novelist Oscar Hokeah highlights the pain and healing power of Indigenous communities
Oklahoma writer Oscar Hokeah draws on his own upbringing in the Kiowa and Cherokee communities to paint a kaleidoscope of Native American characters who fight to retain honor and gain healing amidst cultural trauma in his new book, “Calling for a Blanket Dance.”
Streaming outperforms both cable and broadcast TV for the first time ever
Streaming platforms outpaced broadcast and cable in July's total TV viewership. The change came as new seasons of hits on Hulu and Netflix debuted and live sports and traditional shows went on hiatus.