The year 2024 was punctuated by several cultural events, including the inauguration of the Royal Theatre of Rabat, the celebration of the Qatar-Morocco Cultural Year, and the celebration of Marrakech as the capital of culture in the Islamic world for 2024. Here is an overview!
The year 2024 was marked by the launch of a series of initiatives and the continuation of others, aimed at promoting the cultural scene and consolidating the Kingdom's influence at the regional and international levels, under the farsighted leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Thus, the year that is coming to an end saw the organisation of new editions of important cultural events, such as the International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat and the Marrakech International Film Festival, which make the Kingdom a destination of choice for the community of intellectuals, artists, and lovers of art and culture. It was also marked by other events that testify to the solicitude that HM the King has constantly shown towards the cultural sector.
Among these initiatives is the inauguration of the Royal Theatre of Rabat by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, accompanied by Brigitte Macron. A structuring project that strengthens the ecosystem of the City of Light, the cultural capital of Morocco. The fruit of an enlightened vision, this iconic building is intended to be a concrete expression of the Royal Solicitude, constantly renewed, towards art and culture. This new theatrical structure is marked by its location, its aesthetics, and its innovative technicality, which represent a major turning point in the Kingdom's cultural landscape. Launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and part of the development programme for the city of Rabat, this major project contributes to the strengthening of cultural infrastructure in the various regions of the Kingdom and promotes Morocco's cultural influence in the world.
Designation of Rabat as World Book Capital for the year 2026
This cultural influence was also consecrated by the announcement, last October, by the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, of the designation of Rabat as World Book Capital for the year 2026, as well as the choice of Marrakech to host the 19th World Congress of the Organisation of World Heritage Cities in 2026, two decisions that reinforce the role of these two cities in the global cultural landscape. The year 2024 was also marked by the celebration of the Qatar-Morocco Cultural Year, highlighting the riches of Moroccan art and culture.
This is a unique event and an exceptional opportunity to introduce Qatar and the whole world to the richness of Moroccan cultural heritage in all its diversity, splendour, and particularities, which make the Kingdom a unique secular country. Added to this is the celebration of Marrakech as the capital of culture in the Islamic world for 2024, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The Ochre City has thus hosted a series of cultural, intellectual, and artistic events and activities highlighting Islamic civilisation and the richness of a city that is distinguished by a particular charm and continuous urban development, thanks to the royal project "Marrakech, City of Permanent Renewal".
Adoption of several laws in various fields
Similarly, the year 2024 was marked by the official celebration of the Amazigh New Year, in accordance with the decision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to establish this national holiday, within the framework of the constitutional consecration of the Amazigh language. This year also saw the consolidation of the legal arsenal relating to cultural issues, with the adoption of several laws in various fields, notably the law relating to the protection of heritage aimed at strengthening the provisions relating to the conservation and preservation of monuments and historical sites and objects of art and antiquity, and the creation of a national register for the census of heritage. These also include laws relating to the film industry and the reorganisation of the Moroccan Cinematographic Centre (CCM) aimed at promoting Moroccan cinema in its various dimensions.
Thus, the draft law brings a set of novelties relating mainly to the development of legal rules concerning the authorisation to exercise the activity of film production, in addition to establishing a new international accreditation system allowing executive production on behalf of natural or legal persons not subject to Moroccan law. This text also defines the rules governing the commercial and cultural exploitation of cinematographic films and provides for the adoption of an authorisation system for the distribution of cinematographic films, in addition to the obligation to have an authorisation issued by the CCM for the filming of films and the definition of filming locations for cinematographic films and audiovisual works within the framework of the filming authorisation.
The text also provides for the obligation of a prior declaration to the CCM to organise the first edition of film festivals and events, as well as new commitments linked to the programming of Moroccan films in cinemas according to the number of screens they have, to encourage national film production, while subjecting the exercise of any professional activity linked to the film industry to prior authorisation.
