The Festival, organised by the International Centre for Performance Studies of Tangier in partnership with the Abdelmalek Essaâdi University and the International Centre for Research in Cultures and Performance (Germany), highlighted the role of the artist and former Minister of Culture in the development of the performing arts in Morocco and her personal qualities which placed her on the front line for the defence of artists and the values of freedom and modernity. Speaking on this occasion, the poet, novelist, and former Minister of Culture, Mohamed El Achaâri, noted that Touria Jebrane is one of the cultural and artistic figures who carried the values of modernity throughout her career, stressing that the actress's work constitutes a reference in terms of theatrical performance in Morocco. Touria Jebrane did not confine herself to her artistic role but was always very close to the aspirations and problems of society, defending with great moral integrity individual and collective freedoms and rights, including during the exercise of her mandate as minister, he said. For her part, Touria Jebrane said she was honoured by this tribute which rewards, through her, all the men and women of the theatre and the creators who carry the noble values of art. The achievements that Morocco enjoys today in the various political and social fields were possible in part thanks to the action and self-denial of artists, creators, and defenders of freedom of expression and creation, she noted, saluting the contribution of the International Centre for Performance Studies in the promotion of research in the field of theatre and performance. The regional director of Culture in Tangier-Tétouan, Mohamed Teqal, took this opportunity to stress that the Tangier International Festival of Performing Arts constitutes a unique event in the national cultural landscape, because in addition to the shows presented, the Festival offers conferences and debates entirely turned towards questions of the art of performance and the phenomenon of spectacle. This inauguration session was marked by the presentation of a collective work, produced under the direction of the playwright and researcher Mohamed Bahjaji, and dedicated to the artistic and human journey of Touria Jebrane. The programme of this edition, which sees the participation of some 150 artists, researchers, and university professors from 24 countries, provides for the presentation of several plays as well as conferences and round tables around the main theme "Performance and public space".