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.

January 25, 2017 12:16 PM

Sales of '1984' and other classic dystopic novels soar

The publisher of George Orwell's "1984" has just ordered a reprint of another 75,000 copies. The books is currently the No. 1 best-seller on Amazon.

by Associated Press and Tracy Mumford

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January 25, 2017 10:52 AM

'The Bear and the Nightingale' is a rich winter's tale

Katherine Arden's new novel deftly weaves Russian fairy tales with tactile details to create a gorgeously wintry tale of magic, marred slightly by a clunky ending that's clearly setting up sequels.

by Amal El-Mohtar

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January 25, 2017 12:00 AM

August Wilson examines the ugly contradictions in American history

A talk given in Minnesota by the late August Wilson, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and now an Academy Award nominee for the movie "Fences."

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January 25, 2017 12:00 AM

Parting thoughts: A lifelong drive to write

Former MPR Commentator Peter Smith had a passion--and a knack--for writing about the little things in life. He passed away on December 31.

by Cathy Wurzer

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January 24, 2017 9:02 AM

Simon Tolkien draws on his famous grandfather's experiences in 'No Man's Land'

Simon Tolkien's new novel was inspired by his grandfather J.R.R.'s time at war -- but in theme, tone and style, it owes more to Charles Dickens than to "The Lord of the Rings."

by Brian Castner

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January 24, 2017 8:55 AM

Latest Rogue Valley album took three years to complete

Today's Morning Edition music is from Minneapolis-based Rogue Valley with "Bury Your Heart."

by MPR News Staff

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January 24, 2017 8:03 AM

Oscars go gaga for 'La La Land' with record-tying 14 nods

Following two years of "OscarsSoWhite" furor, the Academy of Motion Pictures fielded a notably more diverse field of nominees, led by Barry Jenkins' luminous coming-of-age portrait "Moonlight," Denzel Washington's "Fences" and Theodore Melfi's "Hidden Figures."

by Associated Press

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January 24, 2017 12:00 AM

'A Really Good Day' recaps a month-long adventure of microdosing LSD

Ayelet Waldman's new memoir describes her experiences with a variant of bipolar disorder, and her attempts to self-medicate with LSD. Critic Maureen Corrigan calls it a "gutsy ... really good story."

by Maureen Corrigan

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January 23, 2017 3:45 PM

John Lewis' graphic memoir wins 4 American Library Association awards

March: Book Three, the third installment in the civil rights leader's memoir, won the Coretta Scott King Award for best African-American author. The Caldecott and Newbery medals also were announced.

by Lynn Neary