The Ali Zaoua Foundation had ruminated on a beautiful project for the Sidi Moumen district: a cultural and artistic centre to reconnect the district to the rest of the city. Sidi Moumen, a district memorable for a sadly famous date, that of 16 May 2003, now has its own centre, "Les Étoiles de Sidi Moumen". The director Nabil Ayouch matured the idea of creating this centre in the company of the painter and writer Mahi Binebine, author of the novel "Les Étoiles de Sidi Moumen", which inspired the successful film "Horses of God". To finance this project, the two activist artists had organised an auction of contemporary works in Sidi Moumen in May 2013. They were thus able to raise 2 million dirhams, a significant sum they did not expect, but insufficient nonetheless to build the said centre. The necessary budget was between 4 and 5 million dirhams. But, good news, the authorities were interested in the project and offered to help with the realisation of the centre. The desire that Nabil Ayouch and Mahi Binebine jointly nurtured finally took shape through the opening of this centre, dedicated to the arts and culture professions. It opened its doors this week, with a first workshop organised for both the young and old of the district, who received a visit from two artists on tour in Morocco. Stéphanie Delpuch and François Debacker got hands-on by introducing 60 children to screen printing.

The workshop was organised in the form of three hubs: "Wall Mural", "Floor Painting", and "Crayon-Felt Workshop". The participants all showed real motivation and a particular passion for this art, which was new to them. The new cultural centre of Sidi Moumen will focus on training, through courses in music, dance, singing, theatre, cinema, photography, painting, sculpture, and masterclasses. "Les Étoiles de Sidi Moumen" opens its doors for activities reserved for the residents and young people of Sidi Moumen. Access to the centre will therefore be free. Nevertheless, to benefit from courses and activities under the supervision of professionals, one will have to pay modest prices. Screenings, activities, meetings, debates, and shows will punctuate the programming of the venue, intended to live all year round to the rhythm of these appointments made by or for young people in training. This is one of the strong points that "Les Étoiles de Sidi Moumen" has set itself the ambition to implement: to offer these young people a real platform valuing their talent in front of an audience and to complete the annual training with a series of productions through which the progress of each will take on concrete meaning.

Contributions from everywhere. To finance this project, the director Nabil Ayouch and the painter and writer Mahi Binebine launched a large auction of about fifty works of art provided by great Moroccan artists. The two artists had contacted the greatest contemporary Moroccan artists, who immediately agreed to donate one or more works for the realisation of a centre.

Some even offered to donate their time to lead workshops that will be provided within the cultural centre. 41 painters, sculptors, photographers, and private collectors testified to their generosity by offering valuable pieces of art. 66 works were subsequently sold at auction by the CMOOA house (Moroccan Company of Works and Objects of Art).