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.

Seven fantasy and sci-fi recommendations from a diehard reader
Bookseller Jude Feldman works at Borderlands Books in San Francisco, the city's destination for genre thrills. She has seven recommendations for readers eager to explore new worlds.
Should Jerry Lee Lewis be in the Country Music Hall of Fame?
Jerry Lee Lewis turns 82-years-old today. The "Killer" was in the first group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but he spent much of his career performing country music.
MN Historical Society working on app for people with memory loss
With a $205,00 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Minnesota Historical Society will begin work on a new mobile app to spark conversations between people with memory loss and their caretakers and loved ones.
Getting ready for the Twin Cities Marathon? Here's what you need to know
Runners as well as friends, family and fans will be converging along the 26.2-mile route of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon this Sunday. Here's what you need to know about the run and related events.
He told NPR, "We have the worst Congress we've ever had. They are bought, paid for, and they behave abysmally."
'Playboy' founder Hugh Hefner, champion of free speech and 'smut', dies at 91
Hefner's magazine was blamed for (or credited with) setting off a cultural revolution in America, but within a few years he was branded a male chauvinist.
Art Hounds: Remembering Spirit Island
This week, the Art Hounds recommend a light-and-sound installation on the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, a performance piece inspired by the prophet Elijah, and a literary event in Rochester.
In 'Dear Fahrenheit 451,' loving books both wisely and well
Librarian Annie Spence's new book is a collection of love letters and breakup notes to the books in her life -- written in a warm, funny, specific voice that skillfully balances reverence and wryness.