Making Sense of the World: Musings on the exhibition Sense Me at Trapholt and how it might make us more aware of the important things — in our own life and in the world.

Everywhere, we see the cultural domain ranking low in political debates and in the way we structure our societies. In the meantime, current research validates that cultural participation makes a tangible difference for citizens and societies, for instance improving mental and physical health, lowering crime rates, encouraging climate friendly behaviour and democratic participation. Interest in the social impact of arts and culture are gaining momentum, capturing the attention of very different actors in the cultural field, from artists to policy makers. The Danish art & design museum Trapholt is making interesting strides to frame and further the transformative qualities inherent in arts and culture. The exhibition Sense Me explores how contemporary art — with roots back to Rudolph Steiner and synaesthetic art movements in the early 20th century — is striving to make audiences more critically aware of the world around us.