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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

Mathematical methods used to detect and classify breast cancer masses
2016-08-10

Description: Breast lesions Tags: Breast lesions

Examples of Acho’s breast mass
segmentation identification

Breast cancer is the leading cause of female mortality in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the low survival rates in developing countries are mainly due to the lack of early detection and adequate diagnosis programs.

Seeing the picture more clearly

Susan Acho from the University of the Free State’s Department of Medical Physics, breast cancer research focuses on using mathematical methods to delineate and classify breast masses. Advancements in medical research have led to remarkable progress in breast cancer detection, however, according to Acho, the methods of diagnosis currently available commercially, lack a detailed finesse in accurately identifying the boundaries of breast mass lesions.

Inspiration drawn from pioneer

Drawing inspiration from the Mammography Computer Aided Diagnosis Development and Implementation (CAADI) project, which was the brainchild Prof William Rae, Head of the department of Medical Physics, Acho’s MMedSc thesis titled ‘Segmentation and Quantitative Characterisation of Breast Masses Imaged using Digital Mammography’ investigates classical segmentation algorithms, texture features and classification of breast masses in mammography. It is a rare research topic in South Africa.

 Characterisation of breast masses, involves delineating and analysing the breast mass region on a mammogram in order to determine its shape, margin and texture composition. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) program detects the outline of the mass lesion, and uses this information together with its texture features to determine the clinical traits of the mass. CAD programs mark suspicious areas for second look or areas on a mammogram that the radiologist might have overlooked. It can act as an independent double reader of a mammogram in institutions where there is a shortage of trained mammogram readers. 

Light at the end of the tunnel

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among females in South Africa. “The challenge is being able to apply these mathematical methods in the medical field to help find solutions to specific medical problems, and that’s what I hope my research will do,” she says.

By using mathematics, physics and digital imaging to understand breast masses on mammograms, her research bridges the gap between these fields to provide algorithms which are applicable in medical image interpretation.

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