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25 Years. One festival.

08 July 2025 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi | Photo Supplied

Vrystaat Arts Festival 2025 — Come and experience the arts that make life meaningful at the 2025 Vrystaat Arts Festival from 15 to 19 July 2025 on the University of the Free State Bloemfontein Campus.

The University of the Free State (UFS) is proud to once again open its Bloemfontein Campus to one of South Africa’s most beloved cultural traditions – the Vrystaat Arts Festival – taking place from 15 to 19 July 2025. This year marks 25 years since the UFS first became a partner of the festival, a milestone that celebrates not only a rich artistic legacy but also a deep-rooted commitment to creativity, community, and connection.

Adding much significance this year is the presence of the UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Hester C. Klopper, who will be experiencing the festival for the very first time as part of the UFS community.

“It has been a quarter of a century of growth, togetherness, multi-faceted inspiration, and joyful celebration,” says Prof Klopper.

“This partnership … embodies our fundamental commitment to social impact and our belief that universities should be catalysts for cultural development and social cohesion.”

With theatre, literature, music, film, visual arts, interactive exhibitions, and a strong showing by UFS students and staff, the festival is a multi-sensory celebration of South African talent and thought.

A highlight of the programme is a tribute to Prof Nico Luwes, a beloved figure in Free State theatre and former Head of the UFS Department of Drama. Prof Klopper will also lead this year’s UFS Thought-Leader Panel Discussion on 17 July at 12:00, unpacking the theme ‘Reimagining Higher Education for Employability and Sustainability’ in the Albert Wessels Auditorium.

Two exciting book launches will further enrich the programme:

Thinking Through Food in South Africa: Identities, Embodiment and Representation co-edited by Prof Vasu Reddy, UFS Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, and Prof Lebo Moletsane from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (15 July), and
Research and Activism: Ruth First and Activist Research co-edited by Prof Saleem Badat, Research Professor in the UFS Department of History, and Prof Reddy (16 July).

As Prof Klopper reflects:

“This festival strengthens the bonds between our university and the broader Free State community, embodying the spirit of ubuntu that defines our institution.”

With fresh energy, familiar traditions, and a quarter-century of memories, the 2025 Vrystaat Arts Festival is set to be a celebration like no other.

Here are just some of the UFS contributions to this year’s festival:

Department of Drama

Die bruikbare idioot

Verbode Gedagtes in Stereo

Rooikappie en die Drie Varkies

Gebou soos Steffi Graf

The semblance of permanence

Willemien en Meraaitjie en Willie Wragtig die Troeteldrakie!

Bielie

Die Moedige Avonture van Prinses Petronella

Harte-Bliksems

Perspectives on Perspectives of Love

The Masks

Visual Arts

In Resonance

Oh no! She swallowed a fly!

Sticks and figures drawing workshop

Literature

Thinking Through Food in South Africa: Identities, Embodiment and Representation

Henriette Grové, bekende dramaturg en prosaïs

Sy word Sestig!

Transponering van romans na dramas en/of films

Van Egoli via 7de Laan tot in Binnelanders

Hulde aan die helde: Nico Luwes

Research and Activism: Ruth First and Activist Research

Spookstories van CJ Langenhoven

Sprankelverse uit die oude doos

Vlieks

Cleanse

Echoes of the Land

Sehlabelo

Lag en Legende: ’n Wandeling deur die loopbaan van Tobie Cronjé

Sci-ed

Sci-Ed interactive exhibits

Sci-Ed Science Café

Sci-Ed Science Café: Sterre en Planete

Science@Dinner

Science Show at Sci-Ed

Sci-Ed Stargazing

Wetenskapvertoning by Sci-Ed

Make your bath bombs

Make and launch your own parachute

Make your own marshmallows

Make your own rocket

Planetarium

Bedreigings vir Aarde: satelliete, asteroïede en meer …

Max Goes to the Moon

Mysteries of your Brain

Passport to the Universe / Ruimtevorms

Threats to Earth: satellites, asteroids, and more …

Wêrelde buite die Aarde

Worlds Beyond Earth

Entrance tickets to the festival grounds and the theatre productions are already on sale at Webtickets.

Come and experience the arts that make life meaningful.

News Archive

School of Open Learning opens access to education

2011-12-08

Lanterns filled the night sky as UFS staff and guests celebrate the launch of the School of Open Learning at the university’s South Campus.
Photo: Johan Pretorius

A school which intends to expand the boundaries of the University of the Free State (UFS), providing good quality higher education that is based on open learning principles. That is what the School of Open Learning at the UFS’ South Campus is all about. The School was officially launched at the Campus on 28 November 2011.

Prof. Daniella Coetzee, Dean of the School, told guests at the launch that the School will provide opportunities other than traditional learning in higher education and open up access to those who have not had the opportunity to study at a higher education institution. This includes taking programmes and courses to students at off-campus sites. The School of Open Learning currently has 46 off-campus sites across most of the provinces, i.e. Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Limpopo and the Free State. The off-campus sites are serviced by a total of 350 university lecturers and well-trained facilitators and tutors.

At the moment most of the programmes and courses managed by the School of Open Learning have their academic home in the Faculty of Education, providing upgrading of the qualifications of teachers as well as in-service training. In 2011 the School of Open Learning enrolled more than 4000 students for the Education courses. To date a total of 28 000 teachers have been enrolled at the School to upgrade their teaching qualifications.

Collaboration with the Faculty of Law in the presentation of a BIuris degree on off-campus sites is also on the calendar for 2012. This degree will be offered through contact and E-learning at three off-campus sites: Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

The University Preparation Programme (UPP) will also form part of the School of Open Learning. This programme has proven to be extremely successful in providing students access to undergraduate degrees at the UFS. The curriculum for this bridging year offers courses from the Faculties of Economic and Management Sciences, Human and Social Sciences as well as Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Since 1993 more than 4500 students have enrolled for degree purposes after successfully completing the UPP: 1641 degrees have been awarded to students who began their studies in the programme (including 168 honours degrees; 25 master’s and 8 M.B.Ch.B. degrees). The existing foundation course in the UPP is being adapted to also serve NQF level 4 in further education. As far back as 1998, the Sunday Times (Best in Education, 1998:1) named this programme as “one of the most innovative education programmes” in a special supplement on higher education in South Africa.

Also speaking at the event, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, said the South Campus is to become intellectually alive with possibilities. He said the university will make sure there are seminars, conferences and classes where students can mingle across the university’s three campuses.

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