Summary
Highlights
Christina shares unexpected insights from the past five years. She notes that many public health and arts professionals intuitively grasp the connection but still seek concrete evidence. Despite this, there's growing research supporting the arts' role in reducing loneliness, stress, and increasing civic engagement. A pleasant surprise has been the generosity and lack of hierarchy in cross-sector collaborations. When a safe 'container' is created, experts from various fields are eager to share their skills and work together, breaking down silos and fostering a rich ecosystem of trust.
Christina offers three considerations for public health communicators to replicate the engaging 'container' found in theater. First, befriend and compensate local artists to help design interventions. Second, leverage accessible tools like music, paper, and pencils for creative expression—even a short 'dance party' can shift a meeting's energy. Third, embrace playfulness; adults often relinquish play, but it's crucial for connection, levity, and preventing 'vortex' thinking especially when discussing serious topics.
Christina explains how Elevate ensures complex and sensitive topics resonate with audiences while maintaining safety. They clearly delineate their role as public health and arts professionals, not creative arts therapists, providing resources for mental health support. For sensitive themes, they offer detailed content warnings and even demonstrate props, like a fake firearm, to prevent audience distress. This transparent approach, combined with post-show receptions, fosters an environment where individuals can process, share their stories, and engage in community.
The session introduces the Public Health Communications Collaborative's new series, 'Better Communications for Better Health,' aiming to connect and collaborate with creative voices in public health. The guest speaker, Christina D. Eskridge, founder and executive director of Elevate Theater Company, is highlighted for her expertise in arts and storytelling for public health, well-being, and healing. Live captioning and ASL interpretation are available, and the event is being recorded.
Christina shares her personal journey and 'aha' moments that led her to integrate arts with public health. Initially, her public health studies at UC Berkeley emphasized holistic health, including mental and social well-being, which resonated with her background as a singer and theater maker. A pivotal experience performing in a show for children with autism at Lincoln Center made her realize the powerful role of theater in community building, education, and fostering understanding, affirming that a public health degree and performing arts are not disparate fields.
Christina emphasizes the inherently collaborative nature of both theatre and public health. She draws parallels between the numerous disciplines required to stage a play (playwrights, directors, actors, designers) and the diverse expertise needed for a public health intervention (nurses, doctors, technicians, administrative staff). Both fields rely on a collective effort, highlighting that quality care and impactful interventions are not solely dependent on those in the 'spotlight' but on a comprehensive team.
Elevate Theater Company uses plays as an entry point for audiences to connect with public health topics through human stories. Following performances, curated panel discussions with public health experts and Q&A sessions allow for deeper engagement. A key component is a call to action, empowering the audience to take further steps, from joining mailing lists to donating or signing petitions. Christina also notes the value of creative feedback, such as doodles or poems, which can reveal deeper insights than traditional surveys.
Christina discusses the measurable and anecdotal impacts of Elevate's work. While direct measurement of post-show actions (like donations) is challenging, audience feedback indicates significant shifts in understanding and intent, such as parents deciding to vaccinate their children against HPV after a performance. She also references the 'Arts for Everybody' campaign, which demonstrates how art participation fosters social cohesion and well-being. Examples like Chicago's program, training artists as community health workers, illustrate cross-sector collaborations leading to sustained public health interventions.