Rivera Lopez, F.; Wickson, F.; Hausner, V.H. Finding CreativeVoice: Applying Arts-Based Research in the Context of Biodiversity Conservation. Sustainability 2018, 10, 1778.

In this article, we describe a new method—CreativeVoice—integrating the creative arts and qualitative research, which we developed and applied in a context of pursuing community-based conservation of agricultural biodiversity. We developed CreativeVoice as an integrative method to help us understand the local contexts, cultures, and perspectives from community members of different ages and genders, in two contrasting farming communities in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The integration of creative arts–based methods into scientific research offers a host of advantages, including the ability to capture the complex texture of lived experience, explore interconnections between nature and culture, support nonhierarchical relations, and communicate insights in engaging and empowering new ways.

This article describes both the CreativeVoice approach and the significant value of integrating arts-based methods into research for advancing sustainability.