What purpose does art serve in society?

Human experience and expression, and connection with others, through creativity. Art is a feeling, too. A timeless sense of understanding and awe at what I can only describe as "soulful" and "the closest experience to what is referred to as 'spirituality' "--that which cannot be explained in words but is clearly experienced and shared with people in vast and deep ways. Transcending time, regardless of demographic, labels, categories, human definitions, place, material presence and value, etc., to allow people of all varieties to experience soulful connections on the same existential plane as the artist who shared the work... Even those who are long dead can sing and whisper to us and show us we are not alone...