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.

June 30, 2025 4:36 PM

Music as medicine: Gifted Handz and the power of vulnerability

Three childhood friends in the Twin Cities band Gifted Handz created the gospel-fusion song “Freedom’s Intro” — inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s final speech — as a powerful, emotional centerpiece of their performances.

by Anika Besst

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June 30, 2025 12:35 PM

In new memoir, Minnesota journalist details how epilepsy changed her life

In her new memoir "Running Uphill: Confronting a Life with Epilepsy," author Stacia Kalinoski hopes to inspire others living with epilepsy or any health condition.

by Nina Moini and Alanna Elder

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June 30, 2025 4:00 AM

Closure of longtime Minneapolis punk house Disgraceland leaves behind a legacy

An era ended when the owner announced plans to sell the home. The last punks moved out on April 30. Disgraceland has hosted live music, sheltered touring bands and housed countless individuals within the local DIY and punk communities.

by Natalia Mendez

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June 29, 2025 8:00 AM

After 37 years, Hymie’s in Minneapolis spins its last record

Adam Taylor, the store’s fourth owner, bought Hymie’s just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Taylor says that throughout the pandemic, record shops all around the Twin Cities were hit hard, experiencing financial hurdles that put some out of business.

by Jaylan Sims

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June 27, 2025 4:47 PM

MN Shortlist June 27-July 3: Stage legends, literary quests and brunch in fabulous heels

MN Shortlist is your weekly curated roundup of recommended events from MPR News, highlighting standout performances, exhibits and gatherings around the region.

by Jacob Aloi, Anika Besst and Alex V. Cipolle

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June 27, 2025 11:00 AM

'Behind the Red Velvet Curtain'

Joy Womack is one of the few American ballet dancers to train and perform at Russia’s storied Bolshoi Academy. Her new memoir, as told to MPR News’ Elizabeth Shockman, is an intimate look at what it takes to become one of the best ballerinas in the world.

by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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June 26, 2025 3:11 PM

As Anna Wintour shifts her focus, 'Vogue' is looking for a new U.S. editor

Vogue magazine in the U.S. will soon have a new editorial head. Anna Wintour announced that, after nearly 40 years in the position, she will be focus on her wider roles at Vogue and Condé Nast.

by Elizabeth Blair

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June 26, 2025 9:00 AM

Celebrating Black Music Month: How Black music shaped every sound we know

Gary Hines, the music director and founder of Sounds of Blackness, joins MPR News host Angela Davis to talk about the history and influence of Black artists across all genres of music.

by Angela Davis and Nikhil Kumaran

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June 26, 2025 4:00 AM

Wild, safe and sober: An antique mall in Fridley centers the queer community

At Wild Things Antiques in Fridley — a queer-owned, 20,000-square-foot vintage mall and sober community space — monthly events like First Thursday Drag Bingo blend LGBTQ history, Pride-themed decor and inclusive celebration with the owners’ mission to create a welcoming, diverse alternative to the often exclusionary world of antiques.

by Alex V. Cipolle