Catherine Pégard's Strategic Visit to Morocco
For Catherine Pégard, the selection of Morocco as her first international destination since her appointment as France's Minister of Culture in February 2026 is a significant choice. "I chose Morocco because it hosts a book fair where France is the guest of honor. Having visited the Paris Book Festival in 2025, which welcomed Morocco as its guest of honor, I felt it was essential to ensure continuity, especially since I have recently taken on my ministerial role," she exclusively shared with our media outlet, Le360.
During her tour of the book fair, which takes place in Rabat from May 1 to May 10, featuring 61 countries and 891 exhibitors, Pégard expressed her enthusiasm after visiting the French pavilion. "For me, it has been a real discovery," she noted, recognizing the importance of the fair, which showcases numerous national and international publishing houses. She was particularly surprised by the extensive range of translations available, viewing it as a testament to Morocco's vitality in circulating literary works.
"In a very short time, one can grasp a lot about what connects our two countries, bridging heritage and innovation," she analyzed. This visit was not just about literature; it was an immersion into the artistic landscape of Morocco.
Cultural Cooperation Focused on Heritage and Innovation
In the afternoon, accompanied by the French Ambassador to Rabat, Christophe Lecourtier, and Agnès Humruzian, the director general of the French Institute in Morocco, Pégard visited the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Welcomed by the museum's team, led by Nadia Sabri and the National Foundation of Museums of Morocco, chaired by Mehdi Qotbi, Pégard initially explored the exhibition dedicated to Mohamed Melehi, which opened to the public on April 29.
"I learned that he (Mohamed Melehi) passed away in Paris during the Covid pandemic," she revealed, referencing the artist's works previously exhibited at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. When asked about the possibility of a retrospective of Melehi's work in France, she expressed optimism, suggesting, "We could very well imagine an exhibition at the Centre Pompidou... it would also be a tribute to him." The visit continued to the upper floors, where the impressive permanent collection of the MMVI unfolds. Comprising nearly four hundred masterpieces from renowned Moroccan artists as well as international figures, the collection features paintings, sculptures, photographs, and installations.
Pégard reflected on the evolution of painting across various Moroccan schools from the beginning of the century to the present, stating, "Suddenly, we understand that the world—thank God—is evolving, but evolving without renouncing itself. I find that very interesting." This dialogue sets a promising tone for cultural cooperation between Morocco and France.
Looking ahead, the French Minister of Culture already envisions several upcoming projects spanning a wide range of fields, particularly in cinema, where she emphasized the desire to strengthen collaborations and expand co-productions. Furthermore, she announced that Morocco will once again be honored at the Festival of Art History in Fontainebleau as the guest of honor in just a few days, highlighting that this 15th edition, scheduled for June 5-7, 2026, at the Fontainebleau Castle, will serve as an opportunity to showcase the strength of the Franco-Moroccan relationship.
The Minister believes there are countless opportunities to explore within the realm of publishing. She mentioned a noteworthy digital exhibition project intended to be presented initially in Morocco before eventually being hosted in France, particularly at the National Library of France. "This is what I proposed to the Minister of Culture, Mohamed Bensaïd, to highlight the richness of Moroccan manuscripts and archives and create synergy between the collections preserved in Paris and those here," she explained.
Additionally, Pégard highlighted an upcoming collaborative project between the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Centre Pompidou, focusing on the loan of abstract paintings from the Pompidou collection to the MMVI. This initiative builds on previous collaborative efforts, including the "Mediterranean and Modern Art" exhibition organized in 2018 at the MMVI in partnership with the Centre Pompidou. Furthermore, Pégard aims to extend this partnership to the field of photography, engaging various French museums to lend works to different Moroccan museums, including the future Museum of Photography and Visual Arts set to open in June 2026 in the medina of Casablanca.
In conclusion, Catherine Pégard identified the video game industry as another promising avenue for cooperation, noting France's pioneering role in this sector and the potential for co-productions with Morocco. "This dialogue between heritage and creation is something we must continually cultivate to reinforce the synergies between our two countries," she concluded at the end of her visit.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
