The 2025 edition of the Festival of Art and Discourse (FOAD) is scheduled to take place from Thursday, September 25 to Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada.
This three-day festival, titled “Intersect & Intertwine,” features prominent theatre scholars, including academics from various fields across different continents.
According to a statement from the organizers, some of the presenters hail from Canada, the United States of America, Nigeria, Ecuador, Germany, and the United Kingdom, among others.
The festival director, Prof. Taiwo Afolabi, who also heads the Centre for Socially Engaged Theatre (C-SET) at the University of Regina, mentioned that FOAD 2025 is an initiative of C-SET’s partner, Theatre Emissary International (TEMi), along with its social enterprise, Mobile Research L.
He emphasized that it is not by chance that the centre has been granted the opportunity to host the festival for two consecutive years. Mr. Afolabi remarked, “This is a testament to intersectoral partnership. Therefore, I extend my gratitude to the team at TEMi/MRL for their trust in us. This year’s theme, ‘Intersect and Intertwine,’ provides a compelling framework to delve into the intricate, nuanced, and layered nature of both art and other disciplines, as well as their connections to human relationships.”
He highlighted that there will be over 30 presentations, which will include film screenings, performances, workshops, plenaries, and paper presentations from more than 60 presenters representing approximately 10 countries across four continents.
Mr. Afolabi stated that the festival is envisioned as a space for encounters, intellectual curiosity, and genuine engagement.
A convergence where the community and academia genuinely intersect.
He remarked, “In this regard, I wish to express my gratitude to all those who contributed to the realization of this festival. I am thankful for our keynote plenary speakers, presenters, moderators, and participants. This assembly of communities aims to cultivate new connections across the superficial divides between life and academia, art and industry; creating a space where identities, disciplines, geographies, and social standings can intertwine in complex and unforeseen manners.”
Among the presenters are Dr. Abayomi Adegbamigbe from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Nigeria, Prof. Taiwo Afolabi, a Nigerian-Canadian interdisciplinary artist-scholar at the University of Regina, Darci Anderson from York University, Toronto, Canada, Alexandra Apesland, an interdisciplinary master’s student in psychology and anthropology at the University of Regina, Dr. Oluyinka Smart Babalola, an actor and director from the University of Ibadan, and Hafiz Oyetoro, an acting and directing lecturer at Lagos State University.
Additionally, there are Luis Santafe Chango, an artist from Coto Paxi, Ecuador, Collen Conroy, an acting professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Kate Cushon, a librarian at the University of Regina, and labor activist Blessing Fatoyinbo, along with Moira Day, Aspen Enzo, Cat C. Haines, Anna Mudde, Soni Dasmohapatra, Jia Jia Young, Jeannine Kroening (Ember), Christine Janssen, and Yogini Jog Lejar, among many others.
The distinguished guests comprised Prof. Aziz Douai, who serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Regina, Dr. David Gregory, the interim provost and vice president (Academic) at the University of Regina, and Prof. Chris Yost from the university’s Biology Department.
The announcement specified the moderators as Oyije Abah, Abayomi Adegbamigbe, Taiwo Afolabi, Segun Afolabi, Joseph Atoyebi, Sara Ilori, Sola John, Wes Pearce, Heather Phipps, and Kathryn Ricketts. Additionally, the keynote speakers included Dr. Emily Grafton from the University of Manitoba; Erin Oldford, who is the dean and professor of finance at the Hill and Levene School of Business, University of Regina, and Rhonda Rosenburg, the Executive Director from the University of Manitoba.
