by John M. Eger

June 29, 2025

It may seem naïve to believe that art holds the key to healing our divided world. Yet art is perhaps the purest expression of culture, and artists — consciously or not — strive to connect deeply with others. The most powerful works transcend cultural boundaries, speaking directly to our shared humanity.

In recent decades, we have witnessed profound shifts. Racial, tribal, and religious tensions that once simmered beneath the surface are erupting with renewed force. Rising nationalism, trade restrictions, and inflammatory rhetoric are fueling division, violence, and the breakdown of societies that once prided themselves on unity. Extremism thrives, stoked by economic despair and growing distrust in traditional institutions. Long-standing conflicts intensify, destabilizing entire regions and sparking new waves of displacement, refugee crises, and wars over scarce resources.

Looking ahead, our greatest challenge may be to embrace the idea of a global community — one built on shared governance and an understanding that our differences, expressed through art and culture, are not threats but treasures to celebrate.

Today, the World Wide Web can bridge vast distances and connect people as never before. But first, we must accept that our world is so interconnected that cultural and economic isolation are neither realistic nor desirable. Promoting multicultural understanding is essential if we hope to build a global community that matches the realities of our increasingly integrated economy.

As economic hardship deepens and divisions widen, it becomes even more urgent for humanity to reflect on the future we want. While many disciplines can help us understand each other, only art fully harnesses the immersive, emotional power of new technologies — making it a uniquely effective universal language for exploring history, culture, and shared values.

By building virtual bridges into unfamiliar cultural territories — learning from one another, sharing dreams, and creating together — we can begin to see ourselves as citizens of a truly global society. For peace to thrive, this global society must exchange not only goods and services but also ideas, values, and visions.

The same technology that has shrunk our world can make art and culture the glue that binds discussions of a new world community. Everyone has an app for every human activity; perhaps it’s time for governments and institutions to join forces to create cultural databases that connect people in meaningful ways.

It might seem naïve to believe art is the universal language that can reveal our shared humanity. But if art can’t do this, what can?

Consider examples where art has already transformed conflict zones:

• In Tijuana, a tunnel used to smuggle people and drugs was uncovered in 2004. The house hiding its entrance was transformed into La Casa del Túnel: Art Center, a space for art, culture, and community development.
• The Ilan-Lael Foundation launched a three-day cross-border gathering in San Diego and Tijuana called “Art Diplomacy,” part of its “Gateway Conversations” to build understanding across borders. 
• Vanguard Culture has continued this dialogue through cross-border cultural events that use art to forge friendships between nations.
• An art installation of bright pink seesaws that allowed people to interact over the US-Mexico border has won the prestigious 202 Design of the Year award.

These conversations are vital if we hope to build bridges instead of walls and change the troubling course we are on.

This work will not be easy. But in a world increasingly divided, we must act. While I don’t claim to have all the answers, here are first steps we can take:

• Support and encourage cross-border artistic collaborations.
• Ensure parents and students recognize that the new economy demands creative thinking skills — which arts education fosters.
• Reach young people worldwide through universal art appreciation programs or annual international student art contests.
• Use the Internet to spotlight global artists and show how their work engages with pressing social, political, or economic issues.
• Train artists as advocates, equipping them to express themselves effectively.
• Establish a Nobel Prize for artists and cultural advocates.
• Organize public events highlighting important issues in art and culture.
• Help cities develop vibrant art and cultural districts.
• Encourage museums to engage with political issues, as MoMA did when it showcased artists from majority-Muslim countries affected by travel bans.
• Aggressively support and fund national and international organizations dedicated to art, culture, and the humanities.
• Create a global website to educate, inform, and connect the worldwide art and culture community — and all who care about these issues.

Clearly, there is much we can do to help people everywhere recognize our shared heritage, celebrate a vibrant global culture, and remember that our histories and hopes transcend the politics of nations.