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.

For this 'Party Of Two', distance isn't the only bump on the road
Jasmine Guillory's latest starts with a meet-cute; L.A. lawyer Olivia Monroe runs into U.S. Senator Max Powell in a hotel bar. But they're divided by more than distance: Olivia is black, Max is white.
In 'Love,' Roddy Doyle mines the past — over many, many pints
In Doyle's new novel, two old friends meet at a Dublin pub for a night of reconnecting and hard drinking. Joe has a burning secret; Davy has a concealed sorrow.
Bestselling Spanish novelist Carlos Ruiz Zafón dies at 55
Zafón has been called the most-read Spanish author since Cervantes. He wrote young adult fiction, but his adult debut “The Shadow of the Wind” was a breakout hit, selling millions of copies worldwide.
A ‘profoundly different’ Juneteenth in Minnesota
The annual celebration of Juneteenth is taking on new meaning this year in Minnesota and across the country as people are energized to fight for racial justice in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. And while the pandemic has curtailed larger celebrations, smaller outdoor events are planned throughout the weekend.
New novel relates Ojibwe history from the mouth of a wolf
Minnesota writer Thomas Peacock’s new novel "The Wolf's Trail" is hard to categorize. It's a fictional tale based on the foundational stories of the Ojibwe people. But Peacock tells it from from the perspective of an elderly wolf. The story is a profound mixture of history, spirituality, with a healthy dash of wolf wisdom and humor. 
Juneteenth: A day of joy and pain — and now national action
In just about any other year, Juneteenth would be marked by African American families across the nation with a cookout, a parade or a community festival. But Juneteenth 2020 will be a day of protest in many places.
2 Garrison Keillor books set for release this fall
"The Lake Wobegon Virus," out Sept. 8, continues his "Lake Wobegon" series and ties it to the current pandemic. Memoir "That Time of Year" will be released two months later. In his memoir, Keillor will address the sexual harassment allegations that led to his being dropped by Minnesota Public Radio and The Washington Post.