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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.

St. Paul’s east side set to lose public library in mayor’s proposed budget cuts

St. Paul’s east side set to lose public library in mayor’s proposed budget cuts

St. Paul Mayor Kaholy Her's proposed budget would shut down Dayton’s Bluff library on the city’s east side. Maree Lee and Kmari Watson come to the library almost every day and consider it a second home. They don’t know where they’ll go without it.
by Ahmed Hassan

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Paul Yoon's novel 'Etna' is told from a dog's point of view, thanks to Oscar

Paul Yoon's novel 'Etna' is told from a dog's point of view, thanks to Oscar

Paul Yoon didn’t know it on the day he and his wife adopted Oscar, a yellow lab puppy, that his world would never be the same. His new novel, “Etna,” grew out of his love affair with his dog.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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MN Shortlist Aug. 21-27: 140 years of Mexican music, art on the Gunflint Trail, comedy magic and more

MN Shortlist Aug. 21-27: 140 years of Mexican music, art on the Gunflint Trail, comedy magic and more

New exhibits at the Minnesota Latino Museum and the Chik-Wauk Museum and a new comedy variety show at the Turf Club are among this week’s Minnesota arts and culture picks.
by Alex V. Cipolle, Leah Lemm and Sam Stroozas

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First ever Midwest Black Book Fair looks to be a dedicated space for Black stories

First ever Midwest Black Book Fair looks to be a dedicated space for Black stories

The inaugural Midwest Black Book Fair will bring dozens of Black authors and booksellers to north Minneapolis on Saturday. Terresa Hardaway, who’s behind the event and the owner of Black Garnet Books in St. Paul, joined Minnesota Now to give a preview.
by Kelly Gordon and Alanna Elder

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Beyond books: How public libraries are changing

Beyond books: How public libraries are changing

Libraries aren’t just places to find a good book. They’re places to create, learn, connect and access technology and other resources. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests explore how public libraries are meeting community needs.
by Angela Davis and Nikhil Kumaran

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Publishing bilingual poetry collection is 'a dream' for Minnesota refugee advocate

Publishing bilingual poetry collection is 'a dream' for Minnesota refugee advocate

Poems in Ana Fores Tomayo’s new collection, “Peregrina/Pilgrim” are in both English and Spanish but are not straight translations because, she says, that’s “not poetry." Fores Tomayo is executive director of Refugee Support Network.
by Elena See

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