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 festival features five days of music, film, and talks — but mostly music. It kicks off Saturday night with performances by Somali singer Aar Maanta and Swedish folk-rock group Hoven Droven.
Here are the 2018 National Book Award longlists, featuring a fresh category
Fifty nominated books now remain in contention for prizes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young people's literature -- and, in a fresh twist to the annual slate, translated literature.
'The Real Lolita' investigates the true crime story of Sally Horner
Written in light of Nabokov's famous novel, the book stands out for its captivating mix of tenacious reporting, astute literary analysis and passionate posthumous recognition of a defenseless child.
Traveling theater project helps Otter Tail County tell its own story
PlaceBase, a small theater company, travels around Minnesota, immersing itself in a community and creating a production about that community. The latest show celebrates the sesquicentennial of Otter Tail County and debuts Friday evening in Battle Lake.
New Mia app blends art, culture, cloak, dagger
The Minneapolis Institute of Art is offering a game that takes players on an adventure tour of the museum's galleries.
Every week, we choose 5 things to read, watch, listen to, or experience. This week, an important read about how democracies decline and a classic film to watch at home that still zings after 8 decades.
Guitarist Slash has said "Sweet Child O' Mine" got its start as a quick little melody he made up, with his bandmates adding chords and lyrics later on. It went on to become Guns n' Roses' only number one single.
'The Dinosaur Artist' dusts off the debate over who should own fossils
Author Paige Williams brings the discussion to life by recounting the exploits of commercial fossil hunter Eric Prokopi, highlighting one find -- a 24-ft.-long Tarbosaurus fossil, the book's star.