Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now

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.

Local film giant Al Milgrom dies at 98

Local film giant Al Milgrom dies at 98

Al Milgrom taught film at the University of Minnesota and founded the U Film Society in the 1960s. In time, his efforts produced what became the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival. 
by Euan Kerr

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
The Thread: Three books to expand scientific understanding

The Thread: Three books to expand scientific understanding

For this week’s Thread: Kerri Miller finishes a series this to give more attention to authors you might not have heard about, and would be great ideas for the holiday season. If you have someone in your life who loves science, here are some your last-minute, gift-giving recommendations!
by Kerri Miller

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Rescuing the plywood — and memorializing a movement

Rescuing the plywood — and memorializing a movement

Among those who protested the police killing of George Floyd last spring were artists who expressed their grief and anger through painting. They created hundreds of murals on the plywood that Twin Cities businesses used to protect their windows during the civil unrest. With winter on the way, two young Black women are leading a major effort to preserve the artwork.
by Matt Sepic

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Penumbra Theatre's Sarah Bellamy on motherhood, theater and racial healing

Penumbra Theatre's Sarah Bellamy on motherhood, theater and racial healing

Host Angela Davis talks with Penumbra Theatre’s artistic director Sarah Bellamy about her artistic journey and her expanded vision for Penumbra as a place where theater, wellness and social justice converge.
by Angela Davis

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Ask a Bookseller: Let’s talk about money

Ask a Bookseller: Let’s talk about money

Chuck Neal of Chapters Bookstore in Miami, Okla., recommended a nonfiction title on a ubiquitous topic this week: “Money: the True Story of a Made-up Thing,” by Jacob Goldstein of NPR’s Planet Money.
by Emily Bright

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
New book explores fragments of humanity’s past

New book explores fragments of humanity’s past

Fossils are the subject of a Minnesota author’s book that delves into humanity’s origins and the quest to find the oldest skeleton ever.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Art Hounds: A holiday performance with soul

Art Hounds: A holiday performance with soul

Plus, a virtual Rock and Roll Christmas Spectacular from central Minnesota and a Duluth-based puzzle room to play with friends over the holidays.
by Emily Bright

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
In 'Funny Boy,' a young Sri Lankan gay man comes of age as ethnic tensions explode

In 'Funny Boy,' a young Sri Lankan gay man comes of age as ethnic tensions explode

Deepa Mehta's new film, “Funny Boy,” is Canada's Oscar submission. It's being distributed by Ava DuVernay's company and premieres on Netflix. It's based on the novel by Shyam Selvadurai.
by Bilal Qureshi

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
VocalEssence pushes forward with annual Christmas concert

VocalEssence pushes forward with annual Christmas concert

Like so many holiday traditions, VocalEssence’s annual “Welcome Christmas” concert looks very different this year. Associate conductor Phillip Shoultz spoke with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer about the production.
by Cathy Wurzer

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!