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.

Pioneering ballerina Michaela DePrince dies at 29
DePrince, born in Sierra Leone, lost both her parents during the country’s civil war. She became the youngest principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and later joined the Boston Ballet.
Critics Notebook: Adaptations abound in Twin Cities theater this season — and it’s awesome
The upcoming theater season in the Twin Cities is dominated by stage adaptations of popular works, which, while driven by commercial reasons, also have the potential to surpass their source material, offering unique interpretations and new themes.
William Moyers shares his journey to sobriety in new memoir
William Moyers overcame his addiction to alcohol and crack cocaine in the 1980s and became a star of the recovery world, working as the vice president of public affairs at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and publishing a memoir about his sobriety called “Broken.” But that’s not the full story.
A gilded Tibetan Buddhist shrine room opens at Mia
The Minneapolis Institute of Art will open a Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, the third of its kind in the U.S. and the only one outside the East Coast, featuring over 240 Buddhist objects and a donation from collector Alice S. Kandell, with a permanent exhibition and an opening festival on Sept. 14.
Cube Critics discuss ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’
MPR News Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Alex V. Cipolle both review “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the sequel to the beloved 1988 film by Tim Burton about a troublesome trickster ghost.
Review: ‘Back to the Future’ is a fun, slick ride  
“Back to the Future: The Musical” faithfully adapts the 1985 film with energetic performances, impressive practical effects and technical wizardry like the flying DeLorean — though its new songs are largely forgettable and the show leans heavily on fan service.