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.

Sexy & Spiteful: The best books to read this summer
Celebrated romance authors Bolu Babalola and Emily Henry return to the show to discuss with Brittany their summer reading recommendations, ranging from spiteful and salacious to sweet and spicy.
Looking for summertime suspense? Turn up the heat with these 4 mystery novels
Maureen Corrigan recommends four great reads: “El Dorado Drive,” by Megan Abbott; “The House on Buzzards Bay,” by Dwyer Murphy; “King of Ashes,” by S.A. Cosby; and “Murder Takes a Vacation,” by Laura Lippman.
‘Drag is Art’ Minnesotan and first Drag Race winner BeBe Zahara Benet to perform Saturday
BeBe Zahara Benet was the first person to win the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” on the reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race, which has since exploded in popularity.
Alfred Brendel, the cerebral pianist with a dry wit, dies at 94
Routinely called a “musician’s musician,” the pianist had an atypical career that even he called mysterious. He spent it returning to a handful of favorite composers, with acclaimed results.
‘What happens in the streets:’ St. Thomas team continues to document art inspired by George Floyd
A team of University of St. Thomas researchers is documenting street art from the George Floyd protests — murals, posters and graffiti — in an ongoing global archive to preserve these ephemeral expressions of resistance and remembrance.
Ask a Bookseller: ‘Old School Indian’ by Aaron John Curtis
Anne Holman of The King’s English Bookshop in Salt Lake City, Utah, recommends “Old School Indian” by Aaron John Curtis.
Springboard for the Arts hosts rural artists in multi-state summit in Fergus Falls
Artists from across the Upper Midwest gathered in Fergus Falls for the Rural Futures Summit, a multi-day celebration hosted by Springboard for the Arts that highlights the work of rural creatives through workshops, performances, and community-building events.