Arts-based innovative pedagogy has been proposed as a means to develop business students' aesthetic sensitivity and emotional skills, particularly self-awareness and empathy. This study examines the potential of art appreciation in museums and galleries as a consciousness-raising practice, specifically to enhance environmental awareness among business students in the US and Russia. We analyzed reflective essays written by American and Russian students after their visits to art institutions. Our goal was to understand how these students interpret their aesthetic experiences and how art appreciation contributes to developing a sustainability mindset in a creative learning environment. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, we identified six common key themes from the students' essays, which are presented in this paper. Additionally, we discuss the pedagogical implications of contemplative art appreciation in museums as a means to enhance contemplative management education for sustainability, in alignment with the innovative UN Global Compact PRME i5 framework. Our findings suggest that arts-based learning experiences in museums can effectively cultivate business students' reflective competencies and environmental consciousness, potentially empowering them and fostering personal growth and more sustainable business practices in the future.
