Matt Peiken
Former Arts ProducerMatt Peiken was BPR’s first full-time arts journalist.
He spent his entire career covering arts and culture. He spent 10 years at the St. Paul Pioneer Press in Minnesota writing profiles, opinion columns, and trend stories on visual, literary and performing arts. At WCPO Television in Cincinnati, Ohio, he produced videos and created podcasts for WCPO.com about area artists and cultural events. Returning to Minnesota, he created an independent online arts television series, 3-Minute Egg, which he expanded into a weekly broadcast series on Twin Cities Public Television.
Matt has served as a regional editor for Patch.com, part of a national network of hyperlocal news sites. He was also the Managing Editor of the Walker Magazine, the bimonthly publication of the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis.
Matt says he was drawn to Blue Ridge Public Radio and Asheville for the opportunity to produce public radio journalism in a region that is renowned for its creative community. He’s especially interested in forming partnerships across Western North Carolina that shine a light on regional artists for new audiences. He received his Bachelor of Arts in journalism at California State University – Fresno, and was the recipient of a National Arts Journalism Program Fellowship and a Poynter Institute Fellowship.
Email: mpeiken@bpr.org
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The solo exhibition "Journey Home" is on view through Oct. 9 at Continuum Art in Hendersonville. -
The drummer of Ween is also the co-founder of SoundSpace, a former motel converted into a band rehearsal studio. -
The museum removed culturally sensitive artifacts and replaced them with a range of media from contemporary Cherokee artists. -
Two hip replacements haven't kept the matriarch of ballet in Western North Carolina off the dance floor. -
The Asheville guitarist has earned acclaim for his progressive musicianship and songcraft -
The women's trio performs their entire debut album, "Solid 8," at a record-release show Friday at Fleetwood's in West Asheville. -
Stephanie Hickling Beckman wants to develop work from Black playwrights writing roles specifically for Black actors. -
Abby Bryant and her band are opening for Lucinda Williams Aug. 20 at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain -
Tashi Dorji is a solo artist and experimental collaborator who has won a following with his improvisational music. -
Mira Gerard is conscious of her father's complicated history as she rebrands the gallery with an emphasis on women and queer artists, along with artists of color.
