On Monday, a memorandum of intent was signed at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, establishing a partnership between the National Museum Foundation and the Île-de-France region.
The memorandum, signed by Mehdi Qatbi, President of the National Museum Foundation, and Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France region, primarily concerns the organization of a major inaugural Mediterranean exhibition as part of the opening of the African Culture City – Museum of the Continent.
In extending this exhibition, both sides commit to establishing and developing their cooperation in order to enhance concrete measures regarding the exchange of expertise in the preservation and acquisition of contemporary African artworks, creating mediation mechanisms suitable for the future museum audience, as well as borrowing works from the regional fund of contemporary art of Île-de-France.
In his remarks, Qatbi highlighted the extraordinary momentum granted to museums and culture by His Majesty King Mohammed VI since his accession to the throne, emphasizing Morocco’s pioneering role as a “gateway” to the African continent and a “starting point” for Africans toward Europe. He noted that art and culture are the “best bridges” for promoting mutual understanding and expressed his joy at welcoming Pécresse, who came to discover Morocco’s numerous talents and what the National Museum Foundation has planned for Africa.
On her part, Pécresse confirmed that the Île-de-France region is home to nearly a million inhabitants connected to Morocco, influencing culture, major artists, and the economic life of this French region. She reminded that two vice-presidents are French of Moroccan descent and are among the members of the executive body.
She added, “We are honored by Qatbi’s choice of the director of the regional fund for contemporary art of Île-de-France for the inaugural exhibition of the Museum of the Continent to oversee the preliminary selection of artworks and to be one of the representatives of the inaugural exhibition,” noting that all the expertise of the regional fund for contemporary art of Île-de-France will be made available to the National Museum Foundation to discover, value, test, and promote African talents and contribute to their visibility.
Prior to the signing of the memorandum, Pécresse, accompanied by a delegation from the Île-de-France Regional Council, visited the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, where she had the opportunity to discover works by Moroccan-French writer, poet, and visual artist Tahar Ben Jelloun, along with other creations by contemporary Moroccan artists.
