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COPE-Drama
Summary
Research Methods: 10-week arts-based workshops with drama, climate education, and field trips; data collected via interviews at three stages.
- Focus Areas: Climate risk education, creative expression, community building, and public performances in Metro Vancouver. Boosting wellbeing and heat resilience in adults 60+ through climate storytelling and social connection.
- COPE Co-Production Workshop: Group-based art intervention to be developed following the educational sessions and trainings.
Knowledge Mobilization: Dissemination via journals, policy briefs, media, academic conferences and community events.
51猎奇入口 the project: The COPE-Drama project developed a group-based arts intervention aimed at enhancing wellbeing and heat resilience among older adults aged 60+ through (1) education about climate risks and hazards, (2) opportunities for social connection and support, and (3) creative expression through climate-focused narratives.
Research Methods: The project brought together nine older adults for a 10-week program from June to August 2026. Participants met twice a week for climate education, creative writing, drama, and visual arts activities, exploring how storytelling, creativity, and connection can support adaptation to a changing climate.
Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted at three time points (i.e., pre-workshop, post-workshop, and post-production) utilizing questions to better understand participants鈥� socio-demographic features, their strategies for coping with heat at the time, their personal evaluations of the workshop, and their responses to performing their personal climate-focused narrative to a broader audience, among others.
Bringing Stories to the Stage: Developed and facilitated by Aryana Mohammed, the program culminated in a theatrical performance on August 21, 2026, at The NEST on Granville Island in Vancouver. Participants and researchers co-created two plays, The Coffee Social and Sizzlin鈥� Summer, drawing on participants鈥� reflections on climate change, community, and resilience.
The short film offers an opportunity to share this creative work with a wider audience and highlights the importance of including older adults鈥� perspectives in climate-related dialogue and action.
Watch the short film here:
Knowledge Mobilization: Our research findings will be shared via several mediums which include but are not limited to: (1) articles in peer-reviewed journals, (2) a policy brief, (3) feature articles in magazines and other media, (4) academic conference presentations, and (5) hosting community knowledge sessions and presenting on research-focused podcasts.
