What is aesthetic education good for in pedagogical regards and how can it be compared with the competencies that intercultural education aims at? Our main argument in the article is that the core of intercultural competencies consists of a number of overlapping modes of knowledge, skills and capabilities such as active empathy, critical approach to hidden colonial and racial heritages, dialogic relationships with the world and the other, as well as openness to experiences that are radically different from one’s own. We regard these skills, competencies and knowledge as main elements of “educating responsible citizens.” This article is a joint product of researchers working within different disciplines and with different knowledge interests. They share an interest in the question of if and how aesthetic education can lead to the particular intercultural competence of educating responsible citizens.