Last week, Bloemfontein organized the 25th edition of the Vrystaat Arts Festival, in which creativity and cultural expression were celebrated.
Also known as the Vrystaat Kunstefees or TSA-Botjaba, the event is an important annual art festival that celebrates creativity and cultural expression through a diverse range of artistic experiences, including theater, music, dance, literature and visual arts.
The festival is intended to promote connections between African, English and Sotho cultures and to support the development of both established and emerging artists.
Photographer Alet Pretorius Was there to document the colorful event.
Performers participate in a traditional Afrikaner dance known as Volkspele on day 03, 17 July 2025. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)Decorations on the festival site on day 02, July 16, 2025. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)A scene from Speenvark, a single performance by Tinarie van Wyk-loots-a-particial game, partially struggling poem-based on and with apologies to, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, as well as Jonker, De Villiers, Malherbe, Totius, Opperman and Yeats on day 04, 1725. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)Street artists on day 04, 17 July 2025, in Bloemfontein. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)Luna Paige during the Vrystaat Arts Festival on day 04, 17 July 2025, in Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)Lian Pool (10) enjoys Candy Floss during the Vrystaat Arts Festival. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)A scene of Die Doodskis, an absurd comedy directed by Karina Lemmer, with actors Wentzel Lombard and Tanja Franzsen. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)A live performance from Anderkant that is celebrating Donker Vallei, which celebrates the 25th birthday of the iconic album by Valiant Swart Door Donker Valley on day 04, 17 July 2025. The memorial concert contains original band members Schalk Joubert (Bass) and Simon Orange), Joined by Ilimar Neitz) and Joriks) and Jorik) and Joriks) (Drums) and Jorik Pienaar (drums) and Jorik Pienaar (drums the drums) and Marks on. Vinyl. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)A public execution of is it not just divine, Ethel?. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)Een openbare uitvoering van Is It It Just Divine, Ethel?, Een interactieve maskerprestatie met de lichtgevende, gemaskerde personages die bekend staan als de Ethels, op dag 04, 17 juli 2025. Het werk onderzoekt thema’s van aanwezigheid, spel en menselijke verbinding door visueel opvallende, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitengewoon opvallende, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, buitenaardse, andere, andere, andere, andere, andere, andere, andere, andere, andere, andere, andere, andere, andere, andere, Other, other, different, other, other, other, other, other, extraordinary, extraordinary, investigated. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)A public performance of is not just divine, Ethel?, On day 04, 17 July 2025. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)A scene of in Resonance, a multidisciplinary installation by artists Sibahle Mabaso and Jacobeth Selinga, who combines visual art, performance and interactive experiences to invite the audience to think about their own stories while recognizing the universal threads that connect all human beings, on day 04, 17. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)Conradie van Heerden and Janco Nel perform in a scene of to point Skoon, a theatrical production in a school bathroom and directed by Adriaan Havenga on day 04, 17 July 2025. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)A scene from the intersection of that legend of that gone fish, with Carla Smith, Beer Adrianse, Edwin van der Walt and Ebenen Genis, directed by Marthinus Basson, on day 03, 17 July 2025, in Bloemfontein. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)People look at a work of art from the University of the Free State (UFS) art collection on day 03, 17 July 2025. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)A scene from Dimpho and the catfish, with Rondo Mpiti skewer, Mosa Nyelele, Zizipho Nyulu (directed by Jane Mpholo). (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)Traditional African folk artists crack the whips during the Vrystaat Arts Festival. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)
