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.

November 22, 2024 10:01 AM

Woman to Woman: Artist Hend Al-Mansour celebrates women and Islamic art

Hend Al-Mansour’s new exhibition, “Contain Me,” opening Nov. 23 at SOO Visual Art Center in Minneapolis, celebrates Khadijah and Hafsah, wives of the Prophet Muhammad, through kaleidoscopic video animations and painted illustrations that honor their influence on early Islam while reclaiming Al-Mansour’s place as a woman in Islamic art.

by Alex V. Cipolle

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November 22, 2024 4:00 AM

Cube Critics discuss ‘Emilia Pérez’

Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Max Sparber discuss a film about a Mexican cartel boss going through an interesting transition.

by Alex V. Cipolle and Max Sparber

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November 21, 2024 10:27 AM

Performance Today host Fred Child on taking the ‘stuffiness’ out of classical music

Fred Child is the host of the most-listened-to classical music program in the country, Performance Today. He talks with MPR News host Chris Farrell about heading into his 25th and final season.

by Chris Farrell and Maja Beckstrom

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November 21, 2024 4:00 AM

Art Hounds: The M gets bigger, student-curated Black joy and fancy chairs you can’t sit on

Art Hounds discuss the expanded Minnesota Museum of Art’s new wing, a show curated by students at the University of Minnesota about Black joy and a new exhibit with 20 chairs and five mini golf holes.

by Emily Bright

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November 21, 2024 12:20 AM

Percival Everett wins the National Book Award fiction prize

Everett's novel “James” is a retelling of Mark Twain's “Huckleberry Finn.” The prestigious literary prize also awards the best in non-fiction, poetry, translated literature and young people's literature.

by Andrew Limbong

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November 20, 2024 1:05 PM

In a new book, Minnesota author spotlights unsung hero from the HIV/AIDS crisis

“When the Band Played On” by Michael G. Lee tells the story of Randy Shilts, a pioneering journalist who worked to change the narratives and reporting around the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s.

by Nina Moini and Ellen Finn

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November 20, 2024 4:00 AM

Turning pages through time: St. Paul’s Red Balloon Bookshop celebrates its 40th year

The Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul celebrates 40 years as a beloved community hub for children’s books, storytimes and local literary events, weathering challenges like eBooks, Amazon and the pandemic.

by Emily Bright

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November 20, 2024 4:00 AM

The glamour unravels: ‘Cabaret’s’ haunting echoes of denial and hope

The University of Minnesota’s production of “Cabaret” blends dazzling performances with a chilling exploration of denial, humanity and political upheaval, reflecting the timeless relevance of its themes.

by Anika Besst

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November 19, 2024 3:20 PM

New book traces life from a Somali orchard to running a nonprofit in Minnesota

In “My Dear Loving Sisters: Tea and Stories from an Audacious Life,” Fatoun Ali lays out how she survived poverty and abuse to raise four children and start a nonprofit. She told her story in the form of a workbook, with strategies and questions for overcoming all kinds of challenges.

by Nina Moini and Alanna Elder