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.

Writer and artist Vincent Moniz Jr. is trying to save the Nu'eta language after the last known speaker died in December.
What do Amazon's best-selling books say about America?
Reading has always been a political act, and now, Amazon's best-seller list is functioning like a real-time political poll -- split between dissent and support of the new administration.
'Splendid Table' host Rossetto Kasper retiring; Francis Lam steps up
Lynne Rossetto Kasper, whose love of all things food made her one of public radio's best known voices, is stepping down at the end of 2017. New York Times Magazine columnist Francis Lam takes over March 10.
Happy 150th birthday, Laura Ingalls Wilder
On Feb. 7, 1867, Laura Ingalls was born in a cabin outside Pepin, Wis. Her family's journey across the Midwest became the basis for the "Little House on the Prairie" books, which have sold more than 41 million copies.
'Pachinko' is a family saga of exile, discrimination ... and Japanese pinball
Min Jin Lee's sprawling family epic spans decades and two clashing cultures -- Korea and Japan. It's honest, unadorned writing that acknowledges horror but ultimately carries a message of hope.
Smaller, diverse groups swim against arts-funding tide
Big, mainstream arts organizations take the lion's share of contributions, both public and private.
Old pictures, cherished items reveal stories of African-American life
The Washington Post last year asked people across the country to submit photographs of family objects that connect them personally to black history. Then journalists worked to tell the stories behind them.
Do arts grant-givers overlook artist of color?
Larger, whiter, cultural nonprofits are taking up most of the funding in the state. What does that mean for smaller, more diverse groups?
'Glass House' chronicles the sharp decline of an all-American factory town
Once a bustling town, Lancaster, Ohio, is now beset by unemployment, low wages and drug abuse. Brian Alexander chronicles the rise and fall of his hometown in his new book, "Glass House."