Shining a Light, an annual photography contest and exhibit created to “shine a light” on gender equality issues and to empower all women and girls globally, will be on display at the Ali Center from March 5 through August 7, 2022. This year’s theme is Water, specifically global water scarcity, relating to women’s activities, health, work, and overall lives.

Shining a Light is informed by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #5 of Gender Equality and each year the exhibit highlights an additional UN Goal that illustrates “urgent calls for action” by all countries that end poverty, improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth. Clean water and sanitation is SDG #6.

Women are disproportionately affected by water scarcity, oftentimes having the primary responsibility of water collection and household management of duties, including food preparation, sanitation, and overall health. These burdens are compounded by women’s marginalization and subsequent vulnerability, hygiene needs relating to menstruation, pregnancy and childbearing, and the preclusion of education or occupations necessitated by the time required for gathering water. The Ali Center is proud to bring awareness to these issues through creative expression and cultural exploration.

This year, the Ali Center received 827 photo entries from over 55 countries. It features 35 photographs, including those from three winners and ten honorable mentions.

Entrance to this exhibit is included in the regular admission price.