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.

On the Irish identity in modern America
James Silas Rogers' new book asks: Is there still a distinct Irish identity in America?
Are you addicted to your smartphone?
Behavioral addiction, especially to the new technologies so prevalent today, is the topic of Adam Alter's book "Irresistible." Alva Noe proposes two criteria that may determine addiction to technology.
'Ice Ghosts' in the Arctic: How the long-lost Franklin expedition was found
In the 1840s, two British crews vanished while seeking a passage through the ice at the top of the world. Paul Watson became "obsessed with the mystery" and tells the story in his new book "Ice Ghosts."
Minneapolis comedian John Gebretatose walks the line between funny and taboo, especially when it comes to race.
In '2140,' New York may be underwater, but it's still home
Kim Stanley Robinson envisions a future that's closer than we like to think in 'New York 2140.' Sea levels 50 feet higher have swamped Manhattan, but there's a tiny thread of hope that we might float.
Rock 'n' roll legend Chuck Berry dies at 90
Berry hit the Top 10 in 1955 with "Maybellene" and went on to influence generations of musicians. Among his other hits were "Johnny B. Goode" and "Roll Over Beethoven."
The story of 'The Other Einstein': His wife
Bookseller Jodi Smits fell in love with the historical novel that delves into the life Albert Einstein's first wife, Mitza Maric.