Anne-Claire Legendre made no secret of her mission during the Casablanca press briefing: this marked her first official visit to Morocco in her capacity as president of the Institut du monde arabe (IMA). Since Morocco’s founding membership in 1982, the kingdom has stood out as a trusted ally, enabling decades of joint initiatives to highlight the Kingdom’s cultural wealth and heritage.
The timing aligns with a packed Franco-Moroccan diplomatic agenda. During her meeting with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Legendre underlined the IMA’s role in strengthening bilateral relations, particularly ahead of next year’s intergovernmental summit in July 2026 and the planned return state visit of King Mohammed VI to France. The IMA aims to energize this renewed partnership through expanded collaboration.
The itinerary kicked off in Rabat on June 19 with a working session with Youth, Culture and Communication Minister Mehdi Bensaid. Highlights included a tour of the Chellah archaeological site and a visit to the National Institute of Archaeological Sciences and Heritage (INSAP). In Casablanca, a gathering at the National Library brought together leaders from the National Archives, the Moroccan Cinematheque and the National Higher Institute of Music and Dance (INSMAC). The president also met Fihr Kettani, founder of the Studio des Arts Vivants and chair of the Federation of Cultural and Creative Industries (ICC). The program concluded in Marrakech with discussions alongside prominent figures from Morocco’s artistic scene, including Meriem Berrada, curator of Morocco’s first-ever pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, and Alexis Sornin, director of the Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé Berber Arts Museums. The visit wrapped up in Casablanca with the unveiling of the new Museum of Photography and Visual Arts, attended by Federation of Museums president Mehdi Qotbi.
Archaeology: spotlighting Moroccan research in Paris
Archaeology took center stage in Legendre’s remarks. Her INSAP visit underscored the need to showcase Morocco’s archaeological achievements. The institute now trains over 170 students and collaborates with French institutions such as Inrap, CNRS, the Collège de France and ENS. While Morocco has built a robust training system, Legendre stressed the priority is elevating research visibility. Breakthroughs at sites like Volubilis, Banassa and discoveries revising Homo sapiens timelines remain largely unknown in Europe. She announced that, upon return, the IMA will explore an exhibition dedicated to Arab-world archaeology in Paris.
Cultural and creative industries: gaming and immersive experiences
Legendre pointed to Morocco and Saudi Arabia as the Arab world’s most visible players in video games and animation. She revealed plans for the IMA to support France’s hosting of the Esports World Cup, requested by Saudi Arabia, while also tying this effort to the 2027 redesign of the IMA’s museum, which will feature immersive and gamified experiences.
The president also announced three annual prizes in fashion, design and contemporary art, to be awarded alongside major Parisian events: Fashion Week, Paris Design Week and Paris+ by Art Basel. Winners will receive residencies, exhibition opportunities and professional mentorship in France or the Arab world. This initiative responds to repeated requests from young Moroccan creators during the visit.
Photography, literature and the Arabic language
The inauguration of Casablanca’s Museum of Photography and Visual Arts seals a partnership first discussed with Mehdi Qotbi. It leverages the IMA’s 86,000-image photothèque, a significant portion documenting Morocco across multiple photographic campaigns. Legendre stressed her intention to share this resource with Moroccan partners.
Language and literature also featured prominently. Legendre called for expanding Arabic-language teaching in France and outlined plans to work with Moroccan counterparts to identify works by emerging Arab and Moroccan authors for translation and distribution to French and European publishers. This aligns with Rabat’s designation as Arab Capital of the Book for 2026. She noted a gap in visibility among French publishers when it comes to contemporary Arab literature.
The second half of 2026 will see two major IMA exhibitions: “Long Live the Bride!”, exploring Moroccan wedding traditions across regions and diaspora communities, and a showcase on the Alhambra’s Nasrid-era legacy and its influence on Moroccan art and architecture, including contemporary expressions.
The visit culminated in finalizing a cultural cooperation roadmap between the IMA and Morocco. Legendre confirmed a draft proposal is already under review and that this trip aimed to translate that vision into measurable goals. The roadmap will align with upcoming bilateral milestones, starting with next year’s intergovernmental meeting. With the IMA marking its 40th anniversary in 2027 alongside its museum overhaul, this moment marks a pivotal chapter in renewal.
