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 new cross-county memoir: ‘The Last American Road Trip’
Sarah Kendzior wanted to show America to her young children. So she and her husband crisscrossed the country to visit national parks and historical sites, even as political upheaval and the pandemic remade the landscape. Her new memoir chronicles their journeys and asks if this beautiful, complicated country can live up to its ideals.
As ‘Arrowsmith’ turns 100, Sinclair Lewis’ medical tale couldn’t be more timely
Literary and medical experts will gather next week in Lewis’ hometown of Sauk Centre, Minn., to discuss his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The story of an idealistic doctor struggling with ethical questions about medicine and scientific research remains as relevant today as it was when it was published in 1925.
Art Hounds: Audio scavenger hunts, pottery favorites and outdoor scenes on canvas
Jamie Daniels of St. Paul, Cindy Ihlenfeld of Mahtomedi and Lou Ferreri of St. Paul share what’s catching their eyes and ears this week, from a new season of sidewalk audio plays to a curated pottery show and impressionistic people at play.
Minnesotans are celebrating Melissa Hortman — one seed at a time
At least two Minnesotans are submitting crop art portraits of Rep. Melissa Hortman to the Minnesota State Fair to commemorate what the late speaker has done for the state.
Growing up and growing the band: the evolution of Twin Cities indie folk rock group Second Hand Dan
Twin Cities band Second Hand Dan has been playing gigs for a decade and playing together for longer than that. They have seen each other through their teenage years, both as friends and bandmates, and now, as they gear up for a summer of live shows, they continue to celebrate their collaborative, creative process rooted in a unique language and bond between each other.