The 2025 ArtsEverywhere Festival is Just Around the Corner

From May 2 to 4, 2025, Guelph, Ontario will once again host the ArtsEverywhere Festival, now only ten days away. This annual event gathers artists, writers, performers, and filmmakers to explore fresh perspectives on the urgent social, political, and environmental issues shaping our world.

The festival opens with The Guelph Lecture—On Being, a signature evening that promises an inspiring lineup. Novelist and humourist Drew Hayden Taylor will offer a literary reading, followed by a dynamic performance from LU KALA, the Juno-nominated Canadian singer. The evening will conclude with a keynote conversation titled “Meeting the End of the World as We Know It”, featuring distinguished cultural critics Vanessa Andreotti and Báyò Akómoláfé. Tickets for this event are available now through the River Run box office, and if you can’t make it to Guelph, there will be the option to stream the keynote online.

Saturday’s schedule begins with a rare opportunity to experience the short films of Bolivian filmmaker Miguel Hilari, who will be present to discuss his work. In the afternoon, Bolivian activist Yola Mamani will join members of Toronto’s Kwentong Bayan Collective to examine the intersections of care labour and BIPOC communities. Later in the day, artist sophia bartholomew will sit down with curator Elwood Jimmy about talk about plant medicines, seeding practices, and the ongoing care of the Mike MacDonald garden in Guelph.

The Big Ideas in Art & Culture Lecture will be delivered by curator and community organizer Wanda Nanibush, the founding director of aabaakwad, an international gathering of over 80 Indigenous curators, writers, and artists. Following her lecture, curator Taqralik Partridge will present an evening of conversation and performance featuring two international poets: Stephen James Smith and Melissa Shaginoff. The day will close with a high-energy performance by ROSINA, a collaborative project that blends Techno, House, Hip Hop, and global rhythms inspired by Toronto’s diversity.

ROSINA

Sunday’s events, curated by Anna Bowen, will focus on immersive sound experiences that encourage community connection through deep listening. In the afternoon, artist and composer Anne Bourne will lead a participatory choral workshop rooted in the Deep Listening practices of Pauline Oliveros. The session will include contributions from artist and osteopath Lesley Greco and sound interventions by composer and percussionist germaine liu, in a co-presentation with the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI). The festival will close with an “empathy supper” led by Berlin-based Indonesian artist and organizer Ariel William Orah, joined by long-time collaborator Pedro Oliveira and renowned improviser Karen Ng. This final event, co-presented by 10C Shared Space, invites participants to reflect on trust and community through sound, conversation, food preparation, and shared meals.

Full festival details are available on the ArtsEverywhere Festival website. The festival is committed to fostering a sense of belonging and safety, working closely with community partners to ensure an inclusive and equitable space for all. The organizers extend their gratitude to the many volunteers, sponsors, donors, and community collaborators who continue to support this meaningful cultural gathering.

To stay informed about updates and upcoming events, follow the ArtsEverywhere Festival on Facebook and Instagram.

Presented by Musagetes and the Eramosa Institute
For more information contact: info@musagetes.ca

ArtsEverywhere Festival
6 Dublin Street South
Guelph, Ontario N1H 4L5