Arts & Culture

Museums, Music, Theater, Comedy and More

Minneapolis has long been seen as one of the Midwest’s most important cultural centers, and for good reason. The city is home to many world-class museums and art galleries, allowing locals and visitors alike to come face-to-face with countless important cultural treasures and artworks. The city’s legendary music scene has launched the careers of a deep well of household-name superstars. The Twin Cities has the third-most theater seats per capita of any U.S. city, trailing only Los Angeles and New York. Even our comedy clubs have served as the proving ground for some of the funniest people in entertainment today.

Minnesota offers something for everyone. Take a closer look at some of the highlights our cultural landscape has to offer.

Art

Minneapolis Institute of Art

As one of the country’s largest art museums, the MIA’s collection comprises nearly 100,000 individual pieces from every discipline.

Walker Art Center

Minnesota’s home for contemporary art draws more than 700,000 visitors per year to its collection of important multimedia exhibits.

Weisman Art Museum

The collection at the Weisman places special emphasis on art with a historical context. The Frank O. Gehry museum building is itself a work of art.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Adjacent to the Walker, the Garden is home to many of the city’s most iconic works, including the famous “Spoonbridge and Cherry.”

Bell Museum

Minnesota’s home for natural history is on the U of M campus, and includes hundreds of exhibits, artifacts, interactive displays and a planetarium.

Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery

Dedicated to preserving and celebrating the historical contributions of the culture and community.

Minnesota Historical Society

Preserving Minnesota's past, sharing historical state stories and connecting people with history in meaningful ways.

Theatres

Guthrie Theatre

As the Twin Cities’ premier performance venue, The Guthrie hosts workshops, lectures, and local, regional and national dramatic performances across its multiple spaces.

Hennepin Theatre

All year long Hennepin Theatre Trust brings the most popular touring Broadway musicals, plays, concerts, comedy shows and more to Minneapolis.

Orpheum Theatre

This beautiful and historic theatre seats 2,579 spectators, and was built in 1921. In the decades since, it’s hosted drama, concerts, comedy, and even Vaudeville.

Pantages Theatre

One of the City’s oldest theatres, the 1,016-seat Pantages opened as a Vaudeville performance space in 1916. Today, it hosts comedy, films, concerts, and more.

State Theatre

This grand 2,181-seat space was called “a gilded pleasure palace” by the local press upon opening during the roaring twenties. Today, the State hosts all manner of live performances.

The Ordway

Recognized as one of the U.S.’s leading not-for-profit performing arts centers, the Ordway is home to a wide variety of performances that encompass the finest in Broadway musical theater, music, dance, and vocal artists in its Music Theater and Concert Hall.

Comedy

HUGE Improv Theatre

As one of Minneapolis’ newest performance spaces, HUGE offers longform improv comedy, as well as outreach, instruction and workshops.

ACME Comedy Company

The Twin Cities’ premier comedy venue has launched the careers of many a prominent comic. ACME hosts open mics, local showcases, and a regular schedule of touring stand-ups.

ComedySportz

The inventive team-based speed-improv style of “CSz” means that the laughs come as rapid-fire as the points. Watch out for those “brown bag” fouls!

Arts & Culture

Museums, Music, Theater, Comedy and More

Art

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Walker Art Center

Weisman Art Museum

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Bell Museum

Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery

Minnesota Historical Society

Theatres

Guthrie Theatre

Hennepin Theatre

Orpheum Theatre

Pantages Theatre

State Theatre

The Ordway

Comedy

HUGE Improv Theatre

ACME Comedy Company

ComedySportz

Music

First Avenue

Fine Line

Dakota Jazz Club

Varsity Theater

The Armory

Minnesota Orchestra

The Green Room

311 Club

Electric Fetus

A Guide to Twin Cities Music Scene

Area Attractions

Arts & Culture

Museums, Music, Theater, Comedy and More

Art

Theatres

Comedy

Music

Area Attractions

Altitude 26 Package