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.

Sean Garrison on his latest work, 'The Darkness in My Skin: A Live Painting Experience'
Minnesota will mark the second anniversary of George Floyd’s murder next week. Artists and community leaders are finding ways to honor his legacy and continue to advocate for change in their communities. Minneapolis-based artist Sean Garrison is working to provoke honest conversations about the experiences of Black Americans through a new live performance.
Minnesota film industry hopes for a resurgence
The world premiere of a film shot in Minnesota during the pandemic is the closing night attraction at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival this week. The Minnesota film industry is hopeful a tax credit approved last year will mean more film and television production in the state.
Banksy show opens in Minneapolis
One hundred works by the British artist-provocateur worth a total of $35 million will open in the same space recently occupied by popular immersive Van Gogh show.
Mika Tuzon of Scrawl Books in Reston, Virginia recommends the novel “Brown Girls” by Daphne Palasi Andreades.
Yes, you can get your kids to read this summer!
Summer is the perfect time to entice kids to find a good book. Kitty Felde, host and executive producer of the podcast “Book Club for Kids,” joins Kerri Miller to talk about how to get reluctant readers to pick up a book this summer. Plus, she has loads of book suggestions, for everything from graphic novels to books about history and scary stories.
Author Kelly Barnhill on her new kids book, 'The Ogress and the Orphans'
Fairy tales aren’t just for kids. They ask questions, reveal new paths, and help us find our way. Such is the case with Minneapolis author Kelly Barnhill’s new book for kids, “The Ogress and the Orphans.”