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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.

Brigitte Bardot, sex goddess of cinema, has died

Brigitte Bardot, sex goddess of cinema, has died

Legendary screen siren and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has died at age 91. The alluring former model starred in numerous movies, often playing the highly sexualized love interest.
by Elizabeth Blair

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When a loved one dies, where do they go? A new kids’ book suggests ‘They Walk On’

When a loved one dies, where do they go? A new kids’ book suggests ‘They Walk On’

After his mom died, “Fry Bread” author Kevin Maillard found himself wondering, “but where did she go?” So he wrote about it. His new kids’ book is “And They Walk On,” illustrated by Rafael López.
by Samantha Balaban

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Hunker down with these 13 mysteries and thrillers from 2025

Hunker down with these 13 mysteries and thrillers from 2025

Mysteries and thrillers are enjoyable no matter the season, but there’s something extra satisfying about curling up in the winter with a warm drink and an all-engrossing read. Here’s what we suggest.
by Ivy Buck

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The best and most surprising Big Book shows of 2025, part one

The best and most surprising Big Book shows of 2025, part one

Go behind the scenes with Big Books host Kerri Miller and producer Kelly Gordon as they choose their favorite and most surprising shows of the last 12 months.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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‘Somewhere’ at the Guthrie explores family tensions through drama and dance

‘Somewhere’ at the Guthrie explores family tensions through drama and dance

In Matthew Lopez’s “Somewhere,” now onstage at the Guthrie Theater, dance takes the place of song to tell the story of a Puerto Rican family fighting to preserve art, identity and home as their 1950s New York neighborhood is erased.
by Jacob Aloi

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‘A family reunion of artists’: Minnesota Anishinaabe artists showcased in Detroit and beyond

‘A family reunion of artists’: Minnesota Anishinaabe artists showcased in Detroit and beyond

A major exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts brings together more than 60 Anishinaabe artists, including over 15 from Minnesota, in a rare, large-scale celebration of contemporary Native art.
by Alex V. Cipolle

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What is ‘wassailing?‘ What makes a Christmas carol a ‘carol?’ Some Christmas terms defined

What is ‘wassailing?‘ What makes a Christmas carol a ‘carol?’ Some Christmas terms defined

What exactly is wassailing — and why does it keep showing up in Christmas songs? From medieval drinking bowls to danceable melodies, here’s what separates a carol from a hymn and why traditions like “The Gloucestershire Wassail” still endure.
by Jacob Aloi

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Heart and Hearth: An on-air Christmas party

Heart and Hearth: An on-air Christmas party

MPR News invites listeners to a festive on-air wassailing celebration, “Heart and Hearth,” featuring music, storytelling and communal singing inspired by the English holiday tradition.
by Jacob Aloi

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Aly Aleigha tried to write a Christmas song under pressure and found stillness

Aly Aleigha tried to write a Christmas song under pressure and found stillness

Under a tight Advent deadline, Midwest singer-songwriter Aly Aleigha set out to write a Christmas song meant to slow people down and discovered how much meaning can grow under pressure.
by Anika Besst

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