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# Purpose and Vision

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                  -      Our Purpose
The increase and diffusion of knowledge.
Our Plan
Our 2027 Strategic Plan outlines the direction and priorities for the Smithsonian.
Our Vision
Through our unparalleled collections and research capabilities, and the insight and creativity we foster through art, history, and culture, the Smithsonian strives to provide Americans and the world with the tools and information they need to forge **Our Shared Future**.
Smithsonian 2027
**T**he Institution’s five-year Strategic Plan launched in the winter of 2022, builds on the foundation laid by our previous Strategic Plan and outlines the Smithsonian’s aspirations, priorities, and planned impact as we continue to transform to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world. Our content will reach people across the world, on topics relevant to their lives, through the lens of art, history, and science, with the Smithsonian serving as an interpretative guide.
Learn more aboutSmithsonian 2027Grand Challenges
**Magnifying the Transformative Power of Arts and Design**Every day, through our museum exhibitions and collections, research, and education and outreach programs, our staff explores the arts and their impact on our world. We ask how artists are able to pose trenchant questions about the meaning of life, how the arts and design improve the lives of individuals and communities, how the arts have served and continue to serve as means for people and communities to express and share values and ideas, and how the creative process can help all people experience our shared humanity.

**Unlocking the Mysteries of the Universe**We will continue to lead in the quest to understand the fundamental nature of the cosmos, using next-generation technologies to explore our own solar system, meteorites, the Earth's geological past and present, and the paleontological record of our planet.

**Understanding and Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet**We will use our resources across scientific museums and centers to significantly advance our knowledge and understanding of life on Earth, respond to the growing threat of environmental change, and sustain human well-being.

**Valuing World Cultures**As a steward and ambassador of cultural connections, with a presence in some 100 countries and expertise and collections that encompass the globe, we will build bridges of mutual respect, and present the diversity of world cultures and the joy of creativity with accuracy, insight, and reverence.

**Understanding the American Experience**America is an increasingly diverse society that shares a history, ideals, and an indomitable, innovative spirit. We will use our resources across disciplines to explore what it means to be an American and how the disparate experiences of individual groups strengthen the whole, and to share our story with people of all nations.
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