Empathy is more than feeling for another; empathy allows us to listen for the emotional cause of a conflict. Arts have the inherent ability to short-cut cognitive and affective blocks and ignite empathy. Today’s discussion will examine arts-based modalities to build perceptual and bias awareness, cultivate artistic sensibility to transform conflict-causing responses, and develop empathy.
The facilitators bring over 40 combined years of expertise in conflict mediation, education, visual and performing arts, and body-based therapies. At the workshop, ample time will be given to experiential learning and group discussion on how these arts-based modalities can be applied in varied contexts. Participants can expect to increase their capacity to identify, describe and cultivate perceptual and bias awareness, catalyze and deepen their experience of empathy in conflict transformation practices.