The 2025 edition of the Festival of Art and Discourse (FOAD) will take place from Thursday, September 25 to Saturday, September 27, at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The three-day event, themed “Intersect & Intertwine,” will feature leading theatre scholars, artists, and academics from different disciplines across four continents.
According to a statement by the organisers, the festival will showcase over 30 activities including paper presentations, film screenings, performances, plenaries, and workshops. More than 60 presenters from about 10 countries—including Canada, the United States, Nigeria, Ecuador, Germany, and the United Kingdom—are expected to participate.
Festival director, Prof. Taiwo Afolabi, who also leads the Centre for Socially Engaged Theatre (C-SET) at the University of Regina, explained that FOAD 2025 is an initiative of Theatre Emissary International (TEMi) and its social enterprise, Mobile Research L. He described the theme as an opportunity to explore the layered relationship between art, other disciplines, and human connections, adding that the gathering aims to bridge the gap between academia and society.
Among the featured presenters are Dr. Abayomi Adegbamigbe of Adekunle Ajasin University, Prof. Afolabi himself, Darci Anderson from York University, Dr. Oluyinka Smart Babalola of the University of Ibadan, and Hafiz Oyetoro of Lagos State University. Others include Luis Santafe Chango from Ecuador, Collen Conroy from the University of Wisconsin, and several scholars and artists from Canada. The festival will also welcome special guests and keynote speakers such as Dr. Emily Grafton of the University of Manitoba, Erin Oldford of the University of Regina, and Rhonda Rosenburg, Executive Director at the University of Manitoba.
Prof. Afolabi emphasized that the festival is envisioned as a space of encounter, intellectual curiosity, and authentic engagement, where “town and gown” truly meet. He thanked the organisers, presenters, and participants, stressing that FOAD 2025 would foster new community connections across disciplines, geographies, and social positions.