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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.

The Thread: Fiction about islands during a time of isolation

The Thread: Fiction about islands during a time of isolation

In this week’s edition of The Thread, host Kerri Miller kicks off a monthlong series, “Fiction in a time of isolation,” with three novels that celebrate sunny — and solitary — island life.
by Kerri Miller

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'American Poison' aims to show how race is at the root of U.S. problems

'American Poison' aims to show how race is at the root of U.S. problems

Journalist Eduardo Porter has written a book that cuts to the root of racism, tracing it from slavery, Jim Crow, and segregation — and bringing it to today — with unblinking honesty and facts.
by Gabino Iglesias

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Under the quirk, 'Hearts Of Oak' beats with a thoughtful pulse

Under the quirk, 'Hearts Of Oak' beats with a thoughtful pulse

Eddie Robson's slim but punchy new novel is set in an unnamed city, made mostly of wood. The city has a King. The King talks to a cat. It's a gem of offbeat weirdness — with a deeply thoughtful core.
by Jason Heller

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Country music legend Kenny Rogers dies at 81

Country music legend Kenny Rogers dies at 81

The three-time Grammy-winning icon, whose hits included "Lucille," "Lady" and "The Gambler," died at home in Sandy Springs, Ga., his family said in a statement.
by Blake Farmer

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'They're odd and they're eerie': A story collection not to miss

'They're odd and they're eerie': A story collection not to miss

Even as bookstores close for public browsing, many are still serving up orders — and reading recommendations.

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Fun things to do while social distancing

Fun things to do while social distancing

Here are some quarantine-friendly activities to make your downtime better.
by Cody Nelson

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From Mexico to Northfield, MN: New film reflects on meaning of ‘home’

From Mexico to Northfield, MN: New film reflects on meaning of ‘home’

“Ways of Being Home” deals with Northfield's surprising and often invisible connection to another small, agricultural community nearly two thousand miles away, in Mexico.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Coronavirus shutdowns deal heavy blow to the arts

Coronavirus shutdowns deal heavy blow to the arts

Across the state Minnesota artists are finding themselves suddenly unemployed, with little financial relief in sight.
by Marianne Combs

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'The Mountains Sing' a song of many voices

'The Mountains Sing' a song of many voices

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's new novel is a luminous, complex family saga that stretches across decades of Vietnamese history, from the French colonial period, through war and upheaval to the present day.
by Thúy Đinh

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