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.

Kirkus Prize names Jesmyn Ward, Héctor Tobar among finalists for top literary award
Finalists for a leading annual literary award were announced Wednesday. The Kirkus Prize awards $50,000 to writers working in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction and Young Readers' Literature.
How to build a legacy: The late artist Jim Denomie at Mia and beyond
Jim Denomie, an Ojibwe painter who died in 2022, was originally planning a mid-career exhibit with the Minneapolis Institute of Art; his work primarily focused on social injustices and Native communities, and the posthumous exhibit has now become a comprehensive tribute to his legacy.
A groundbreaking exhibition on the National Mall shows monuments aren't set in stone
The first official outdoor exhibition on Washington D.C.'s National Mall showcases six artists whose monuments honor American stories missing from the heart of the country's capitol.
Ask a Bookseller: 'Empire of Ice and Stone'
Lee Post of Homer Bookstore says it was hard to stay warm reading Buddy Levy's beautifully written nonfiction book, “Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk,” about at 1913 expedition gone horribly wrong.