During the 2026 Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, the Student Network of Linz (SNL) brought together 15 young people to explore those questions. We used the festival setting for a non-formal photography workshop focused on how images can communicate personal experiences and issues that matter to young people.
Participants explored the festival and worked through practical photography and visual storytelling exercises. They selected images, considered what drew their attention, and discussed the stories behind them. The aim was to notice how an image can prompt different responses and how a photographer’s choices can shape what others see.
Another way into a conversation
Photography gave the group another way to begin a conversation. Choosing a photograph and explaining why it matters made space for reflection and for listening to perspectives others might have missed.
For the 15 participants, the workshop was a chance to experiment with visual storytelling as a form of self-expression. Exploring the festival offered fresh visual inspiration, while the discussion helped them reflect on how images communicate emotions and different experiences.
What we take forward
The activity also gave SNL practical experience using photography as an accessible tool for non-formal learning. We want to carry that experience into future youth activities, creating more opportunities for young people to show what matters to them and talk about it together.
