Opening of the Street Arts Festival in Fez
The ninth edition of the National Street Arts Festival officially kicked off last Thursday evening in Fez, organized over three days by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication (Culture sector) across various venues in the scientific capital.
The opening ceremony of this cultural event, held under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI, was marked by diverse performances in theater, circus arts, breakdance, and rap music presented by various teams from across the country.
The ceremony began with a theatrical performance titled “The Theater Was Born Here,” featuring actors Hamza Hindah and Nasreen Lamnaj.
The stage also hosted the “Casa Acrobat” troupe from Casablanca, which delighted the audience with outstanding circus performances showcasing their latest creations, alongside the artist “Toxic,” who presented varied rap segments, and a brass band that delivered an artistic performance that engaged the audience enthusiastically.
Graffiti artist Youssef Zorkane from Meknes also impressed the crowd with a remarkable graffiti piece, utilizing quick painting techniques.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by the regional director of culture for the Fez–Meknes region, Fouad Mehdawi, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohammed Mehdi BenSaid, emphasized that the organization of this festival, in close collaboration with the regional directorates of culture and youth, reflects the ministry’s special attention to cultural actions that resonate with citizens and engage with various forms of artistic expression. He also highlighted the deep belief in the role of culture in human development and the enhancement of citizenship, openness, and dialogue values.
BenSaid noted that the National Street Arts Festival gives these arts their rightful place within the national cultural landscape, as they represent a true expression of societal pulse and a mirror to its aesthetic and social transformations.
He added that this event also serves as an opportunity to showcase the diverse expressive forms of street arts, highlight their richness and diversity, and encourage contemporary creativity, with a particular focus on supporting young talents and providing them spaces for exhibiting and artistic exchange, contributing to the vibrancy of cultural life and strengthening values of creativity and belonging.
Moreover, the minister pointed out that this edition of the festival features a rich and diverse artistic program that includes performances representing multiple Moroccan cities and regions, creating a comprehensive artistic tapestry that reflects the rich and varied cultural and civilizational contributions of Morocco, allowing the audience to discover vibrant artistic experiences that originate from the street and speak to human everyday realities.
BenSaid reiterated that organizing this edition further affirms Fez’s pioneering cultural role as a hub for creativity and a space for artistic encounters, highlighting the importance of street arts as a means of expression and communication, and a key driver for energizing the national cultural scene and enhancing its presence.
For his part, Ismail Hamraoui, the regional director of youth in the Fez–Meknes region, confirmed that organizing this festival represents the prominent position street arts occupy within the contemporary cultural scene, as an artistic expression that is close to citizens, resonates with community issues, and can transform public spaces into arenas for positive interaction and cultural dialogue, while instilling aesthetic and citizenship values.
He added that the Fez–Meknes region, with its rich cultural and civilizational heritage and creative youth potentials, is an appropriate space for hosting such national events, providing opportunities for youth to express themselves freely and responsibly, and contributing to discovering and honing artistic talents across various forms of street arts.
Hamraoui also emphasized the regional directorate’s commitment to supporting purposeful cultural initiatives and enhancing institutional synergies with the culture sector, believing that investment in culture is an investment in youth, and that public spaces constitute a natural extension of youth institutions in nurturing creativity and artistic expression.
The opening ceremony of the festival included the signing of a partnership agreement between the regional directorate of culture and the regional directorate of youth to organize and implement joint programs and activities in the fields of youth and culture at the level of the Fez–Meknes region.
This event aims to promote various expressive forms of street arts, highlight their aesthetic peculiarities and artistic diversity, as well as encourage contemporary creativity in cultural spaces and support young talents by providing them opportunities for performing, interaction, and artistic exchange.
This edition features the participation of leading national teams specialized in various types of street arts, including circus arts, storytelling arts, traditional performance arts, theatrical performances, as well as shows aimed at children and others in contemporary urban arts.
