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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.

Teen poets to share work reflecting on history and the future they hope for

Teen poets to share work reflecting on history and the future they hope for

In an event Thursday, teens will read poems from a workshop and mentorship program that asked them to reflect on the 250th anniversary of the U.S. and imagine the world they want to see.
by Nina Moini and Ngoc Bui

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If all the world’s a stage, Joseph Haj is directing

If all the world’s a stage, Joseph Haj is directing

Eleven years and ten seasons into his run at the Guthrie Theater, Joseph Haj reflects on steering one of America’s leading regional theaters through artistic triumphs and turbulent times.
by Jacob Aloi

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Frank Beard, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer of boogie-rock trio ZZ Top, dies at 77

Frank Beard, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer of boogie-rock trio ZZ Top, dies at 77

Frank Beard, the drummer for ZZ Top, has died at 77. He passed away Tuesday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family by his side. ZZ Top sold over 50 million records and had six No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.
by The Associated Press

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Ask a Bookseller: ‘Her Last Breath’ by Taylor Adams

Ask a Bookseller: ‘Her Last Breath’ by Taylor Adams

This is not a book for the claustrophobic, unless you believe in exposure therapy through reading.
by Emily Bright

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New MPR Minnesota State Fair tote bag showcases state through an Indigenous lens

New MPR Minnesota State Fair tote bag showcases state through an Indigenous lens

Every year Minnesota Public Radio picks a local artist to design a tote bag to be given to thousands of members at the Minnesota State Fair in exchange for donations. Dakota artist Marlena Myles designed this year's special gift, which features vibrant colors and pays homage to each corner of Minnesota through an Indigenous lens.
by Chandra Colvin

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Hayden Panettiere, who starred in ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville,’ dies at 36

Hayden Panettiere, who starred in ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville,’ dies at 36

A child actor since she was cast in various commercials as an 11-month-old, Panettiere was best known for her role as the country music star Juliette Barnes in the series “Nashville.”
by NPR Staff

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In search of true wilderness with Cal Flyn

In search of true wilderness with Cal Flyn

The concept of wilderness is more controversial, more arbitrary and more philosophical than you might imagine. Journalist Cal Flynn pursues the true wild in her new book, “The Savage Landscape.”
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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MN Shortlist Aug. 14-20: Dystopia at the museum, the Latino music scene, a clay crawl and more

MN Shortlist Aug. 14-20: Dystopia at the museum, the Latino music scene, a clay crawl and more

A night of nine artists at The Museum of Russian Art, three local Latino bands at Amsterdam Bar and the 10th annual Cannon River Clay Tour in Northfield are among this week’s Minnesota arts picks.
by Jacob Aloi and Alex V. Cipolle

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