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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.

How Gary Shteyngart's pandemic pod inspired a novel about friendship

How Gary Shteyngart's pandemic pod inspired a novel about friendship

Our Country Friends is about the trysts and betrayals that occur within a group of friends during the pandemic. It's an exaggerated version of Shteyngart's own COVID-19 experience.
by Dave Davies

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'All in the Family' is 50 years old. A new book looks at how it changed TV

'All in the Family' is 50 years old. A new book looks at how it changed TV

All in the Family creator Norman Lear, along with writer Jim Colucci, talked with NPR about Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton and their roles on the groundbreaking TV show.
by James Doubek, Rachel Martin, Barry Gordemer and Scott Saloway

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A new book captures Cokie Roberts and her 'Life Well Lived'

A new book captures Cokie Roberts and her 'Life Well Lived'

At the 2019 funeral for longtime NPR journalist Cokie Roberts, her husband, Steven, told personal stories about their life together. There were still more to tell, so he dove into writing about them.
by Reena Advani

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'Misfire' is a scathing look at nepotism, fraud and corruption in the NRA

'Misfire' is a scathing look at nepotism, fraud and corruption in the NRA

The book by NPR's Tim Mak might be the final blow in terms of exposing the organization's rotten core and showing how a boundless love for money and power has eaten away at the group's foundations.
by Gabino Iglesias

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You can do it: Elizabeth Warren makes a pinkie promise to girls

You can do it: Elizabeth Warren makes a pinkie promise to girls

Polly is tired of being told "that's not what girls do." Then she meets a woman running for president, who makes a pinkie promise with her to always remember that girls can do anything.
by Samantha Balaban

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Somali American designers take on refugee stereotypes in Minneapolis fashion pop-up

Somali American designers take on refugee stereotypes in Minneapolis fashion pop-up

Two former Somali refugees are launching a fashion collaboration aimed at countering backlash against refugees while showing the power and beauty the arts can have in uplifting communities. Their fashion pop-up event in Minneapolis featured clothes and art designed to call attention to the refugee crisis.
by Hannah Yang

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How much do you really know about Daniel Boone?

How much do you really know about Daniel Boone?

Daniel Boone’s legend is grand and filled with exaggerations. But the true story of his life is just as amazing as the tall tales. Join Kerri Miller for a discussion with author Matthew Pearl
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Ask a Bookseller: 'The House in the Cerulean Sea' is a feel-good read

Ask a Bookseller: 'The House in the Cerulean Sea' is a feel-good read

Jolie Hughes of Morgan Hill Bookstore in New London, N.H. has a recommendation for people who want a summer read that leaves them feeling good. She points them toward TJ Klune's novel "The House in the Cerulean Sea."

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