Mia (Minneapolis Institute of Art) envisions the Center for Empathy and the Visual Arts (CEVA) taking a leading role in collaborating with fellow museum colleagues as well as researchers, scholars, content experts, and other influencers to research and explore best practices for fostering empathy and global awareness through the power of art and to share these finding with the field. In our increasingly divisive world, polarized by issues regarding politics, racial inequities, marriage equality, global warming, income disparities, and immigration policies, it becomes clear that our failures to understand other people’s feelings are exacerbating prejudice, conflict, and inequality. If we wish to develop not only a more equal society but a happier and more creative one, we will need to look outside ourselves and attempt to identify with the experiences of others. This critical skill is called empathy, which, according to Roman Krznaric, an expert on empathy, “has the power to transform relationships, from the personal to the political, and create fundamental social change.” Art museums, with their collections filled with stories of humanity from across the globe, are well-positioned to play a vital role in helping people understand each other. Minneapolis Institute of Art champions the power of art—and the responsibility of art museums—to spark curiosity and creativity, connect people across cultural differences, and engage our individual and shared values. The Benefits of Empathy From CEVA’s white paper, here are the specific benefits of empathy, both professionally and personally: Read more about the Center for Empathy and the Visual Arts at https://new.artsmia.org/empathy