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.

Cube Critics: Stay up to date with our weekly art and culture chats with MPR News’ Jacob Aloi, Alex V. Cipolle, Max Sparber, Aron Woldeslassie and guests. Listen to or read Cube Critics here

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.

February 29, 2024 10:15 AM

New book tells untold story of Eliza Winston, an enslaved woman’s battle for freedom in Minnesota

St. Cloud State University Professor Christopher P. Lehman shares the struggle for freedom of Eliza Winston, who escaped her captors in 1860 while traveling with them in the free state of Minnesota.

by Cathy Wurzer and Alanna Elder

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February 29, 2024 4:00 AM

Art Hounds: The scent of art, the poetry of Bly, Gilbert and Sullivan

“Do Not Forget Us:” Poets, Writers and Musicians Against the War(s), Cheryl LeClaire-Sommers' exhibit “Scents to Scenes” and Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Utopia, Limited; or, The Flowers of Progress.”

by Emily Bright

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February 28, 2024 4:00 AM

Sloane Crosley mourns her best friend in ‘Grief Is for People’

Russell Perreault hired Crosley when she was 25 and the two became very close. He died by suicide in 2019. Her first full-length book of nonfiction is a noteworthy addition to the literature of grief.

by Heller McAlpin

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February 28, 2024 4:00 AM

Airplane peanuts and cigarette butts: Interactive art at the Weisman

‘The Other Four’ is an interactive exhibition at the Weisman Art Museum, showcasing 16 unique artworks by over 21 contemporary artists. This exhibition emphasizes engaging the senses beyond sight.

by Alex V. Cipolle

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February 28, 2024 4:00 AM

Graywolf Press celebrates 50 years of publishing wild literature

Graywolf Press, a notable independent publisher based in Minneapolis, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking a significant milestone for the small but influential nonprofit organization.

by Emily Bright

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February 27, 2024 2:45 PM

Kao Kalia Yang writes about finding her voice and her mother's journey in two new books

Kao Kalia Yang is releasing two new books in March: “The Rock in My Throat” about her childhood and “Where Rivers Part” about her mother’s life.

by Cathy Wurzer and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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February 27, 2024 4:00 AM

Tommy Orange’s ‘Wandering Stars’ is a powerful follow up to ‘There There’

An eloquent indictment of the effects of the massacre, dislocation and forced assimilation of Native Americans, it is also a heartfelt paean to the importance of family and of ancestors’ stories.

by Heller McAlpin

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February 27, 2024 4:00 AM

As Cowles Center closes, local dancers reflect on its impact

The Cowles Center, a key venue for dance and performing arts in the Twin Cities, is set to close on March 31 due to financial difficulties. This decision has deeply affected the local dance community.

by Jacob Aloi

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February 26, 2024 1:45 PM

Minnesota author Alison Bechdel comes home for Women's History Month talk in St. Paul

Before she came up with “the Bechdel test,” Alison Bechdel wove herself into the fabric of lesbian cultural identity as a comic strip writer in Minneapolis back in 1983.

by Cathy Wurzer and Ellen Finn

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February 25, 2024 4:21 AM

Oppenheimer movie dominates SAG Awards, while Streisand wins lifetime prize

Oppenheimer dominated at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards on Saturday, as several winners paid tribute to last year's actors' strike. Barbra Streisand was given a lifetime achievement prize.

by Robbie Griffiths

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