This collection encompasses 50-plus years of interviews, readings, speeches, and reports on the vibrant literary scene in Minnesota. Not only home to giants F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sinclair Lewis, our state has an array of incredible contemporary poets, novelists, and playwrights. Their words make up majority of this collection.
Repeatedly being named the “Most Literate City in the United States,” the Twin Cities has played host to numerous visiting national writers via book tours, festivals, and lectures. Many recordings of these are also included.
This project was funded by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.
April 24, 2015 - On the segment of MPR News with Tom Weber, a discussion on the book "It's Okay to Ask,” which is for people who aren't disabled, but might not know exactly how to interact when they meet someone who looks different. The book tells the stories of five children who have disabilities or medical conditions and are asked about things like their wheelchair or leg braces by other children. Weber interviews Richard DiPrima, a neuropsychologist at Gillette Children's; and Ellie Goodman, a teenage patient at the hospital.
June 26, 2015 - In the coming week several major arts organizations in the Twin Cities are saying goodbye to longtime directors, notably among them the Guthrie Theater. The end of June marks the end of the fiscal year for many organizations, making it a convenient time for leadership to change hands. But rarely have we seen such a confluence of major transitions.
July 13, 2015 - Next this hour, more arts- but art in Minnesota schools. There's been a lot of talk in Washington about updating the education law known as No Child Left Behind, but that law focuses on math and reading. What about arts education? MPR news has been inviting people from across the state to our studios to talk about several aspects of the arts community today- arts education.
July 29, 2015 - Award-winning author Alexs Pate discusses how his experiences as a Black-American man influence his writing and move him to explore themes of guilt and innocence — along with hope and bitterness. Pate is the author of five novels, including the best-selling Amistad.
August 7, 2015 - Joseph Haj says he is drinking from a fire hose. Five weeks after taking over as artistic director of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis he's immersed in learning his new job. He says he's unlikely to make major changes anytime soon, but Euan Kerr reports Haj is building on some basic principles.
August 17, 2015 - MPR News host Tom Weber included several places at the Fair in his guide book ”100 Things to do in the Twin Cities Before You Die.” Weber stops by one…The Miracle of Birth Center.
August 21, 2015 - A tiny publisher in Duluth has released an anthology of poetry about Minnesota's biggest lake, titled “Amethyst and Agate: Poems of Lake Superior.” The collection from Holy Cow! Press celebrates the many moods of Lake Superior, and the powerful connection it has to the people who live near its vast shoreline.
August 21, 2015 - The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis celebrates its 40th anniversary with an unusual event. It's called “40 for 40” and features 40 different activities across the Twin Cities over the course of 40 hours. MPR’s Arts reporter Marianne Combs discusses the event with All Thing’s Considered host Tom Crann.
August 28, 2015 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer and TPT's Eric Eskola co-host "Almanac" live at the MPR State Fair booth. Tom Scheck talks politics, Mark Seeley talks weather, Kevin Kling tells a Minnesota State Fair story, and Duluth musician Charlie Parr performs. There's presidential politics with professors Larry Jacobs, David Schultz and Kathryn Pearson; plus music and a baby lamb.
October 23, 2015 - MPR’s Doualy Xaykaothao interviews local playwright May Lee-Yang and poet/playwright Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay about “Hmong-Lao Friendship Play.”