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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.

A ‘profoundly different’ Juneteenth in Minnesota

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.
by Riham Feshir

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New novel relates Ojibwe history from the mouth of a wolf

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. 
by Euan Kerr

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Juneteenth: A day of joy and pain — and now national action

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.
by The Associated Press

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2 Garrison Keillor books set for release this fall

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.
by The Associated Press

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'A Good Time for the Truth: Race in MN' chosen as next One Book One Minnesota read

'A Good Time for the Truth: Race in MN' chosen as next One Book One Minnesota read

The Friends of the St. Paul Library has announced that the second selection for its One Book One Minnesota program is the 2016 anthology “A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota.” The book centers around conversations about racial disparities in Minnesota through essays written by Native American writers and writers of color.
by Hannah Yang

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Bolton: Trump moves in office guided by reelection concerns

Bolton: Trump moves in office guided by reelection concerns

President Donald Trump "pleaded" with China's Xi Jinping during a 2019 summit to help his reelection prospects, according to a scathing new book by former Trump adviser John Bolton that accuses the president of being driven by political calculations when making national security decisions.
by The Associated Press

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'Billion Dollar Burger' asks: What is meat?

'Billion Dollar Burger' asks: What is meat?

Chase Purdy's briskly paced and quietly bold new book about the future of meat suggests people rethink its meaning, as he explores those at the forefront of developing cell-cultured meat.
by Nicholas Cannariato

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'I see these conversations as protective': Talking with kids about race

'I see these conversations as protective': Talking with kids about race

What does it mean to be anti-racist, and how should adults talk to kids about race and racism? Children's author Renée Watson and anti-racism scholar Ibram X. Kendi suggest starting with books.
by Noel King

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