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Rabat – Jack Long, President of the Arab World Institute (IMA), referred to Morocco as one of “the most creative and inventive countries in the Arab world” in an interview with the Maghreb Press Agency (MAP) on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the IMA.
“Morocco’s scriptures, architecture, musical expression and contemporary art and cinema have made Morocco one of the most creative and inventive countries in the Arab Word,” said France’s former Minister of Culture.
For the IMA president, Morocco’s presence in the programs of the institution is “very legitimate” and the contribution of Moroccans is “priceless and exceptional.”
Morocco is a country of exception, relations between Morocco and France are exceptional relations,” said the president of the institution inaugurated in 1987 by former French president, François Mitterrand.
Throughout the 30 years of IMA’s existence, “Morocco has always been present and I have personally ensured so,” said Long, referring to exhibitions in honor of Morocco, such as “Contemporary Morocco” and “Splendors of writing in Morocco, rare and unpublished manuscripts” and “The treasures of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa”.
Asked about the future prospects for the IMA, Lang indicated that “the work accomplished over the last 30 years has been immense, despite the ups and downs.”
Since he became IMA’s president, Long has said he has “never ceased to give greater importance to both tradition and modernity,” underscoring that “the best example is the exhibition on contemporary Morocco which occupied the whole building and bore a huge success.”
For him, the important thing in the years to come “is to develop what we have changed,” including the expansion of the Arabic language department.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the IMA, Lang said that throughout the coming weeks, different events will be organized, notably the second edition of the Biennale of Photographers of the Contemporary Arab World, which will open on September 13 and pay a tribute to the late Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui.
The president of the IMA also announced that, as part of the opening of the Institute on the Economic World, an important development forum will be organized on September 19 to highlight the ties between France, the Arab World, and Africa. This forum will be attended by many personalities from the world of economics, especially from Morocco.
