Anne-Claire Legendre's Landmark Visit to Morocco
During a press conference held at the French Institute in Casablanca on June 22, Anne-Claire Legendre, the newly appointed president of the Arab World Institute (IMA), emphasized that this was her "first visit to Morocco" in her capacity as head of the institution. Morocco has been a founding member of the IMA since 1982 and is regarded as a "trusted partner" with whom the organization has collaborated to celebrate the richness and cultural heritage of the Kingdom over the years. This visit not only marks a significant diplomatic milestone but also aligns with a busy Franco-Moroccan diplomatic calendar. In her meeting with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Legendre discussed the role of the IMA in strengthening bilateral relations, especially in light of a planned meeting between the two heads of government in July 2026 and the preparation for a state visit to France by King Mohammed VI. The IMA aims to actively contribute to this renewed partnership dynamic.
Legendre's visit commenced in Rabat on June 19, featuring a working meeting with Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication Mehdi Bensaid. Following this, she toured the Chellah archaeological site and the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage (INSAP). In Casablanca, she convened a meeting at the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco with leaders from the National Archives, the Moroccan Cinematheque, and the National Higher Institute of Music and Choreographic Arts (INSMAC). Additionally, she met with Fihr Kettani, president of the Federation of Cultural and Creative Industries (ICC) and founder of the Studio of Living Arts. The visit concluded in Marrakech, where she engaged with key figures in both the national and international art scenes, including Meriem Berrada, curator of Morocco's inaugural pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, and Alexis Sornin, director of the Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé Museums of Berber Arts, before returning to Casablanca for the inauguration of the Museum of Photography and Visual Arts, attended by Mehdi Qotbi, president of the National Museum Federation.
Promoting Moroccan Archaeology and Cultural Industries
Among the key topics discussed at the press conference, archaeology emerged as a foundational element of the IMA's agenda. Legendre described her visit to INSAP as an opportunity to "understand the path pursued by Moroccan archaeology." Currently, the institution trains over 170 students and collaborates with several French organizations, including Inrap, CNRS, the Collège de France, and ENS. Legendre emphasized that the IMA's focus is not merely on training, which is already well-established in Morocco, but rather on enhancing the visibility of Moroccan archaeological research. She noted that advancements in Moroccan archaeology related to sites like Volubilis, Banassa, Phoenician art, and rock art, as well as discoveries that have revised the dating of Homo sapiens development, remain "relatively unknown to the general public" in Europe. She announced that upon her return, the IMA would "consider with its teams" the development of an exhibition dedicated to Arab world archaeology in Paris.
Regarding cultural and creative industries (ICC), Legendre pointed out that Morocco and Saudi Arabia are the two most visibly engaged players in the Arab world when it comes to video game and animation sectors. She indicated that the IMA is set to contribute to the upcoming Esports World Cup hosted by France at the request of Saudi Arabia, linking this initiative to the museum's planned overhaul in 2027, which will incorporate immersive experiences and gamification elements. In this context, Legendre announced the establishment of three annual awards for fashion, design, and contemporary art, to be awarded alongside existing events in Paris, such as Fashion Week, Paris Design Week, and Paris+ by Art Basel. These awards will offer emerging Arab creators opportunities for residencies, exhibitions, and professional support in France, responding to the recurrent requests for artistic residencies connected to the IMA network from young Moroccan creators.
The inauguration of the Museum of Photography and Visual Arts in Casablanca represents a concretization of a partnership first discussed in initial meetings with Mehdi Qotbi. This partnership is anchored in the IMA's photo library, which houses 86,000 photographs, a significant portion of which document Morocco through various photographic campaigns. Legendre expressed her intention to "make this resource available to Moroccan friends." The topics of literature and the Arabic language were also explicitly addressed. Legendre expressed her desire to "expand the teaching of Arabic in France" and announced that the IMA would work with Moroccan partners to identify works from the emerging Arab and Moroccan literary scene to facilitate their translation and dissemination among French and European publishers, coinciding with the designation of Rabat as the Arab Book Capital for 2026. She highlighted a "lack of visibility" among French publishers in seeking and promoting contemporary Arabic literature.
Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, two major exhibitions are planned at the IMA. The first, titled "Vive la mariée!", will focus on marriage rites and objects from various regions of Morocco, including their evolution within the diaspora. The second will explore the rich history of the Alhambra site during the Nasrid period and its influence on Moroccan architecture and crafts, along with contemporary extensions.
The overarching aim of this visit is to finalize a roadmap for cultural cooperation between the IMA and Morocco. Anne-Claire Legendre clarified that an initial project has already been submitted and that this visit aims to "concretize" this document with "quantified objectives." The roadmap is expected to align with upcoming bilateral milestones between the two countries, starting with the meeting of the heads of government planned for July 2026. The IMA, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2027— the same year its museum revamp is set to begin— is thus entering a phase of renewal.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
