Art matters as it enhances your empathy

Darren Walker believes art matters, and it matters more than ever in today’s polarising world. As the President of the Ford Foundation in New York, he is a decisive voice in the non-profit world, promoting culture and arts.

“We need arts more than ever during a time of growing nationalism and division because artists bridge communities, societies and nations. Through arts, we develop capacity for empathy, and we become more fair in our own behaviour as human beings,” said Walker.

“Culture is essential to our identity as a nation, as a people, and as a world. Artists are willing to take risks, challenge authorities, and talk on behalf of the marginalised. And the society needs artists for this reason. We need agents of change who promote progress and inclusion. That is why the art matters.”

Walker said Ford Foundation has been doing just that for more than eight decades. Ford Foundation supports individual artists and art organisations, because both institutions and individuals are needed for social progress and human achievement.

“This has been our mission for almost 80 years. We have supported myriad institutions from Grammeen banks to museums in Africa, India, culture and heritage projects in China, Indonesia and Mexico. We are a global institution committed to a world that believes in inclusion and justice.”

Culture is essential to our identity as a nation, as a people. artists are willing to take risks and talk on behalf of the marginalised.”