Morocco Signs Partnership Deal to Develop Essaouira Museum

Rabat – The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat hosted today the signing of a partnership agreement aimed at enhancing the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Museum in Essaouira.

The agreement, designed to support the development, equipping, and management of the museum, brings together the National Museums Foundation, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Essaouira Mogador Association, and the Essaouira Municipal Council, reinforcing the institution’s cultural and organizational role.

It was signed by Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mehdi Bensaid, President of the Essaouira Mogador Association André Azoulay, President of the Essaouira Municipal Council Tarik Ottmani, and President of the National Museums Foundation Mehdi Qotbi.

Widely recognized as a key cultural and heritage hub in Morocco, Essaouira continues to strengthen its cultural infrastructure through initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting local heritage. In this context, the agreement forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance the city’s museum ecosystem.

Speaking to Morocco World News (MWN) on the sidelines of the signing ceremony, Tarik Ottmani, President of the Essaouira Municipal Council explained the significance of this agreement.

“This agreement aims to manage and administer the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Museum in Essaouira. As you know, the city of Essaouira has a long history, which does not only go back to the modern form of the city as we know it today, but dates back to the Phoenician era,” Ottmani told MWN.

“This partnership will enable the comprehensive rehabilitation of the museum, so that it can welcome visitors in a new form,” he added, promising that the museum will reopen in a renewed form, with improved facilities and an enhanced cultural offering.

Read also: Essaouira Earns ‘Best Creative Living Heritage Destination’ from Creative Tourism Network

The 19th-century museum is expected to be upgraded to become a space dedicated to learning, cultural discovery, and heritage appreciation. 

This initiative aligns with the broader national development strategy. Through a renewed approach to cultural discovery, learning, and engagement with heritage, these enhancements will position the museum as a space that allows both local and international visitors to connect with the city’s cultural diversity.

It also contributes to the valorization of both tangible and intangible heritage, reinforcing Essaouira’s position as a key cultural destination.

Beyond the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Museum, similar initiatives should be expanded to other cultural and historical sites, in Essaouira and across the country. Today’s agreement marks a step in that direction, strengthening efforts to preserve and enhance Morocco’s cultural heritage.

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