Image to Action: Past Success,Ongoing Questions,and New Horizons for Photovoice Exhibits

Abstract

When participants define and share their lives through photovoice, they can potentially become empowered as experts in their health needs. Images from photovoice exhibits confront gaps between what researchers and policy makers assume people need and what people show that they need. The exhibit is bridge to action across the socioecological spectrum and a way that photovoice studies have helped affect change at individual, interpersonal, community, institutional, and policy levels. However, for this nontraditional modality of research to be most effective in achieving its goals, substantial buy-in from participants, researchers, and policy makers is necessary. Despite the great potential of photovoice exhibits, difficulties in translating findings to social action, ethical quandaries related to participant privacy and representation, and not knowing the overall impact of exhibits on viewers can severely inhibit success. Consequently, we recommend four areas to consider for the future of exhibits: (1) understanding and measuring empowerment and change that happens for participants via photovoice exhibits, (2) considering innovative and new forms of exhibits and sharing information with the public, (3) documenting exhibit processes to produce lessons learned and guides for others, and (4) exploring the ethics and impact of exhibits on photovoice audiences.