Xposure X Darya: Open-air cultural hub ramps up fest's appeal

  The International Photography Festival (Xposure) 2025, the Middle East’s largest celebration of visual storytelling has returned to Sharjah for its 9th and biggest-yet edition in Sharjah’s swanky new hub ‘Aljada’ with a complete reimagination of how culture, family, and community converge.A first-time collaboration, Xposure X Darya is an open-air cultural hub; a vibe.

Anchored in open-air vitality, the space has been curated for every member of the community to find joy, creativity, and inspiration — not just behind the camera, but in every aspect of life. Here’s some of the many experiences on offer:A feast for food lovers: Savour the sights and smells of diverse cuisines at food joints and cafes dotted across the open area.

From local favourites to international flavours, your taste buds are in for a treat.A play haven for kids: Family-friendly doesn’t begin to cover it. Your little ones will find hours of joy in the thoughtfully designed children’s open areas, leaving the grown-ups free to explore.For the hands-on creative: Whether you’re a hobbyist or simply curious, take advantage of interactive workshops running throughout the festival, led by global experts passionate about their craft.

Xposure X Darya 2025 is an invitation to linger, learn, and let the sights and sounds of Aljada reawaken the senses.

An urban getaway: Open spaces make Xposure X Darya the perfect spot to unwind, collaborate, or simply enjoy a backdrop worthy of any photo.At its core, Xposure 2025 remains a celebration of the lens — offering insight into how photographers and filmmakers capture, challenge, and change the way we see our world.

With the addition of Darya, the festival bridges the gap between art and life.Xposure X Darya 2025 is an invitation to linger, learn, and let the sights and sounds of Aljada reawaken the senses. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer, an aspiring filmmaker, or simply a lover of compelling stories, this is the space where the image becomes an experience.

The festival runs until February 26 at Aljada, Sharjah, and is a free-to-attend exhibition. For details and more information, visit https://xposure.net.Venezuelan photographerParticipants honed their skills in impactful storytelling through images under the guidance of celebrated Venezuelan photographer Ana Maria Arevalo Gosen at a Focus Group session titled “Eyes on the Impact” at the 9th edition of the International Photography Festival, Xposure, at Aljada, Sharjah on February 21.

Amateur as well as professional photographers shared their ideas for creating impactful stories – on tackling climate change and rising sea levels, portraits of artists on stage, and conserving giant armadillos. Gosen encouraged them to rethink their creative processes and discover new ways to align their work with ethical and community-focussed goals, thus ensuring storytelling becomes a meaningful force for change.

National Geographic Explorer, whose impact-driven projects have addressed women’s rights, social justice and environmental issues, Gosen referenced her own work on Unomia – an invasive coral species from Indonesia, which harmed Venezuelan waters affecting the livelihood of its coastal people. Her images helped garner community and governmental action.

Participants applied her six-step process – goals, audience, platforms, call to action, success metrics and creativity – to think up a project that they wanted to create impact with. They identified their audiences and collaborators, platforms and action plans systematically under her gentle and friendly prodding.

“What is the ultimate change you want to achieve by telling your story, and secondly, what is a more specific goal you could set to contribute to that change?” She asked them to give them four minutes to visualise each step. She distinguished between strong and weak calls to action, and the advantages of various communication platforms.

Through reflection and storytelling, the group sharpened their photojournalistic talent into a co-creative process that honoured the integrity of those portrayed while addressing ethical challenges and emphasising social impact.Madrid-based Gosen, who has won numerous awards, was also scheduled to hold a five-hour workshop on Intimacy and Photography on February 22 for photographers of all aptitudes apart from a presentation titled “Eternal Days: How Access and Trust Shaped my Work in Latin American Prisons” on February 26.

The talk will offer an intimate perspective, through compelling photographs, on the hidden worlds of incarcerated women in Latin American nations Venezuela, El Salvador and Guatemala.Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), Xposure 2025 runs till February 26. It features 100-plus galleries, over 300 renowned photographers and over 2,500 pictures.