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.

Baby's got mail: Free books boost early literacy
A simple, scalable way to reach kids before they enter school: You sign up and get a free book in the mail every month until your child turns 5.
Kid Cudi will be performing Monday night at the Myth nightclub in Maplewood.
Prince's guitar auctioned for record $700K
The blue teal "Cloud" guitar went far above the $60,000 to $80,000 expected at the Saturday auction.
'Invisible No More' examines police violence against minority women
Author Andrea Ritchie wants the incidents of police violence involving women of color and transgender women to get as much attention as black men and boys have received in recent years.
In 'Bonfire,' Krysten Ritter digs up dirt both environmental and emotional
The heroine of Ritter's new novel doesn't want to come home and face her dark secrets. Ritter says putting "messy women" on screen and on the page can help real women deal with their own issues.
'Mad Men' creator says writing a novel is nothing like TV writing
Matthew Weiner's first novel is "Heather, the Totality." It's a character study of a well-to-do New York family -- and a violence-prone construction worker who becomes obsessed with their daughter.
Netflix dumps Kevin Spacey from 'House of Cards' amid harassment complaints
The company had first said it would cancel the series after the 2018 season, then suspended filming of those episodes, and now has fired Spacey.
A cookbook made for tiny, unconventional kitchens
Bookseller Katharine Nevins recommends a cookbook that features recipes dreamed up in the tiniest of spaces.
'Beasts Made of Night' is the beginning of a great saga
Fantastic worldbuilding sets the stage in Tochi Onyebuchi's new novel, set in a bustling market city inspired by his Nigerian heritage. While the storytelling can be indecisive, the setting triumphs.