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.

In conversation with McKnight Distinguished Artist Carolyn Holbrook
Carolyn Holbrook is an author and arts advocate who has founded three arts organizations over the years, all designed to create space for writers and amplify the voices of writers of color.
Taylor Swift announces 12th studio album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
Taylor Swift has announced her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” The full-length release announced Tuesday follows her last original album, 2024’s “The Tortured Poets Department.”
The changing media landscape
From streaming shake-ups to shrinking newsrooms, how we get news and entertainment is shifting fast. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a media analyst and a pop culture critic about what’s changing and why it matters. 
Buying a pop album on vinyl? You might be paying for a fraction of the music
Fans who pre-ordered the new albums by Lil Wayne and The Weekend on vinyl got a rude awakening: More than half the songs that appeared on the streaming version were missing on the LP.
Tamara Aupaumut awarded the Jim Denomie Memorial Scholarship
The annual award is given to an artist who exemplifies a commitment to excellence, generosity, and engagement with community. “I'm always just trying to pay that forward,” said Tamara Aupaumut. 
Ask a Bookseller: ‘You Better Be Lightning’ by Andrea Gibson
Kara Balcerzak, owner of Bonfire Bookstore & Yarnery in Woodstock, Virginia, recommends “You Better Be Lightning” by Andrea Gibson.
Vampires and a happy ending: Three Minnesota romance buffs discuss how the genre is changing
Move over, Mr. Darcy. These days, romance novels are just as likely to be populated by zombies, vampires and antiheroes as a muscle-bound alpha male. But one thing remains: the promise of a happy ending. Three Minnesota romance aficionados join host Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas to talk about how the genre is changing.