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.

Art Hounds: A musical comedy, a science pioneer on stage and a legacy in quilt
From New Ulm to Minneapolis, this week’s Art Hounds recommendations highlight a quilt exhibition honoring Mary Hartten, a rare staging of “Grumpy Old Men,” and a new play about Ada Lovelace.
First-of-its-kind publisher grows out of Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop
For more than a decade, the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop has provided creative writing classes to people in correctional facilities. That work has led to the creation of Lost Kite Editions, a national independent press.
The Gillyweeds saga: A fake band, a fake plane crash and a real game blur reality
An alternate reality game about a fictional Minnesota band spilled into real life when a staged plane crash announcement reached tens of thousands of unsuspecting social media followers, prompting genuine confusion and grief.
Sallyforth wrote 'Clover' about a storm — now it reflects the moment
Minneapolis band Sallyforth wrote “Clover” after a storm filled with green skies and sirens, but as the single is released, the song has taken on new meaning amid months of fear and violence tied to an immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities.
Bruce Springsteen brings 'Streets of Minneapolis' home to launch a political U.S. tour
Bruce Springsteen returns Tuesday to the “Streets of Minneapolis.” After honoring its residents in song for their courage in standing up against the federal immigration crackdown, he’s using the city to launch his latest U.S. tour.
Fergus Falls construction worker still standing among ‘American Idol’ contestants
Monday’s episode of “American Idol” featured performances of songs of faith. Chris Tungseth of Fergus Falls survived as one of the top 14 contestants, but it was unclear if he made it past the next elimination round.
MN Shortlist, March 27-April 2: Art as record, witness and repair
This week’s lineup leans less on spectacle than on structure—who gets to speak, who gets recorded and how stories move through time. Across stages, galleries and even Wikipedia pages, these events track the systems that shape cultural memory, from youth authorship to institutional visibility.