Why public health needs creative and arts-based futures thinking

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Futures Studies
• Creative Arts

Background:

• Global crises (climate change, technology, inequality, mental health) generate fear and uncertainty.
• Existing public health strategies may not adequately address complex, future-oriented challenges.
• Marginalized communities often face disproportionate impacts and require inclusive approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of creative and arts-based futures thinking in public health.
• To demonstrate how imagination and participation can foster hope and collective action.
• To advocate for inclusive foresight methods in addressing public health challenges.

Main Methods:

• Review of creative foresight methodologies.
• Analysis of arts-based approaches in community engagement.
• Case study examples of futures thinking in public health contexts.

Main Results:

• Creative foresight empowers communities to envision desirable futures.
• Arts-based methods enhance trust and participation, particularly for excluded groups.
• Imagination and collective action are crucial for building resilience and addressing public health crises.

Conclusions:

• Integrating creative and arts-based futures thinking is essential for innovative public health strategies.
• Foresight approaches can build hope, trust, and agency in communities facing uncertainty.
• Public health must embrace participatory and imaginative methods to create equitable and sustainable futures.