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.

'Pretty sharp': Barack and Michelle Obama portraits unveiled
The former president and first lady chose artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald -- the first African-American artists to receive such a commission -- to paint them for the museum's collection.
The life and teachings of Fred Rogers, the longtime host of the PBS children's program "Mister Rogers Neighborhood," are the subject of a new production by the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater in Minneapolis.
At 80, Judy Blume reflects on feminism, #MeToo and keeping Margaret 12
Judy Blume's best-selling books have shaped the way we talk about puberty, periods and female sexual experiences. Those story lines take on renewed relevance amid the #MeToo movement.
In 'Heart Berries,' an indigenous woman's chaotic coming-of-age
Terese Marie Mailhot's new memoir is an effort to draw art from mental illness, lost love and her family history on an Indian reservation in British Columbia.
A novel on the power and pains of sisterhood
Bookseller Susan Hans O'Connor recommends a novel about two sisters whose bond is tested by mental illness.
What not to say to the terminally ill: 'Everything Happens for a Reason'
Kate Bowler has lived with stage 4 cancer for years. Her new memoir details what she's found out about herself and suffering. "You have to learn to be present, even when things are absurd," she says.
The Thread Live: 2018 authors announced
The Thread Live returns in spring 2018 with two literary stars who are masters of both fiction and nonfiction.