By Jaurès Goké – Contributor

Artworks taking over the sports complex, fiery hip-hop dance battles at the Gait and a private, thoughtfully curated dinner led by an environmentally-conscious chef designed as both a sensory experience and a collective reflection on the future of the agri-food industry. On Mar. 22, the BUAF wasn’t just back; it was reborn at the heart of the Lennoxville community. The 2025 edition of Bishop’s University Arts Festival brought together artists, organizers and the public to reflect on a central question: what is the evolving role of art in our shared future?

This year’s theme, “Evolve,” emerged from a desire to reflect on the major transitions our society is undergoing both ecologically and culturally. “Evolve for me symbolizes transformation and adaptation resilience. We urgently need to create sustainable change by reimagining our relationship with nature and each other through connection and collaboration,” shared Marie-Pier Ranger, Artistic Director of the festival. 

From upcycled clothing customization workshops to yoga sessions accompanied by live music performances, the festival’s programming highlighted a key idea: that progress whether personal or collective begins with conscious, creative and grounded practices.

“The events embody Evolve as a living process reconnecting art, nature, science and community to collectively imagine sustainable futures. It’s an invitation to transform, both individually and collectively,” explained Imen Djendli, BUAF’s Production Manager. 

Working on the BUAF proved to be a meaningful experience, for both participants and organizers alike.

“Working in this festival helped me learn so much about myself and about working with a team. At the start I found it a bit challenging, since we are so many people with different personalities and ways of working, but once we began to make the festival happen I realized it was so valuable to be working with such an amazing and hardworking team,” said Barbara Camelo Gobo, BUAF’s Marketing Director. 

I completely share that feeling. As a member of the marketing team, I was in charge of designing the posters for the different festival events. To do so, I took time to connect with each event coordinator to understand their vision and create visuals that resonated with everyone. This festival pushed me, not only to improve my communication skills, but also to strengthen my professional organization.

The 2025 edition of BUAF proved that art is much more than aesthetic pleasure: it is a language of change.The theme Evolve, by bringing together diverse artistic disciplines under a shared goal of evolution, reminded us that progress starts in spaces like this. Spaces where ideas breathe, where teams rise together and where art doesn’t just reflect the world—it transforms it.