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.

In 'Head On,' killer robots, dogged gumshoes ... and a very important cat
John Scalzi returns to the world of "Lock In" -- where people incapacitated by a strange disease can re-enter the world through robot avatars -- for a murder mystery that turns on a cat named Donut.
Actor Verne Troyer, 'Mini-Me' from 'Austin Powers' films, dies at age 49
No cause of death was given, but a statement provided by Troyer's representatives describes the actor as a "fighter" who was unable to overcome a recent bout of adversity, then goes on to discuss depression and suicide.
Mob Museum in Vegas lets visitors play police officer
The courthouse-turned-museum in downtown Las Vegas for years has showcased the area's storied past in organized crime. But visitors now can also learn about the complexity of the decisions that officers face when they encounter situations that may require the use of deadly force.
Young musicians from Cuba are performing in the Twin Cities
"Their training is really rigorous, they have incredible ears. They can improvise and they play all sorts of music. They're all classically trained and they love jazz, too," said Cuban American Youth Orchestra Executive Director Rena Kraut.
As Saudi Arabia's cinema ban ends, filmmakers eye new opportunities
Allowing cinemas is part of a modernization drive by the Saudi government, which hopes to create more business opportunities and become a regional film hub. But it's a tough place to be a filmmaker.
If the Civil War ended with zombies
Bookseller Jessica Cox recommends a novel that imagines an alternate history, where the dead rose up at the Battle of Gettysburg, triggering a zombie apocalypse.
Electronic dance music superstar Avicii dies at 28
Tim Bergling, a Swedish dance wunderkind and one of the most successful DJs in the world, was found dead Friday in Oman.
Moss children take root at Swedish Institute
Kim Simonsson's sculptures are lovely, but even he describes them as "a little bit strange."