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.

3 nonfiction translations to read this spring
It's been rare for non-academic nonfiction to be translated into English — but that's beginning to change. These three books may be academic in the depth of their inquiries — but not in style.
Artists craft new ways to teach Indigenous languages
Minnesota artists say learning and writing in Indigenous language sparks their own creativity. They are building on a revitalization effort.
In the future of 'Here Lies,' the mourning can't bury their dead
Olivia Clare Friedman's “Here Lies” provides a poignant portrait of the way grief can bring people together, uniting even strangers through a common pain and commitment to keep memories alive.
After a stroke blinded one eye, Frank Bruni focused on the future
The New York Times columnist says the stroke forced him to make a decision: He could focus on what had been lost or on what remained. He chose the latter. Bruni's new memoir is “The Beauty of Dusk.”
From the archives: Novelist Yaa Gyasi explores addiction, immigration and family ties
As we await Friday’s show, which dives into a book about life at the southern U.S. border, enjoy a discussion Kerri Miller had in 2020 with author Yaa Gyasi which also touches on themes of identity and culture.