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.

A Minnesotan’s story collection is climate fiction but it captures increasingly familiar reality
When Ashley Shelby of St. Paul began working on her short story collection back in 2016, she thought she was writing weird fiction about the impacts of climate change.
What if a ‘Blood Test’ predicted you’d commit murder?
In Charles Baxter’s new novel, a small-town insurance salesman buys a blood test that can predict romantic entanglements, promotions — and more. It’s a screwball satire of all-American zaniness.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame turns up starpower to induct Cher, Foreigner, Mary J. Blige, Ozzy and more
Inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame had an eclectic lineup that included pop icon Cher, heavy metal’s Ozzy Osbourne, hip-hop soul queen Mary J. Blige, soft rockers Foreigner and 83-year-old soul icon Dionne Warwick.
8,000 fans flock to Mall of America to see global K-pop-style girl group KATSEYE
The girl group made their first appearance in Minnesota at Mall of America to perform songs from their first EP “SIS: Soft is Strong”. The group gained popularity from a Netflix documentary and survival show.
Celebrity photographer turns Mankato into a portrait studio for everyday people
When Los Angeles photographer Josh Madson moved back to Minnesota during the pandemic, he didn’t expect to embark on one of his largest projects yet. After a career spent photographing celebrities, he found himself in Mankato where he was inspired to create a large-scale photo collage of more than 5,000 people from the city he now calls home.
Prada and Axiom Space reveal modernized NASA spacesuits for the 2026 moon landing
The suits will be used for NASA’s Artemis III mission, marking humankind’s first return to the moon since 1972. It will see the first woman and the first person of color walk on the moon.