Rabat – The closing ceremony of UNESCO Maghreb’s “Artistic Marathon” project was held last week on Sunday at the Mohammed V theater in Rabat.
The 2022 Artistic Marathon took place from May 6 to 8, with a focus on contributing to the economic development of the Moroccan music industry and empowering young artists.
The three-day event aimed to strengthen collaboration opportunities between selected artists and professionals in the musical field.
Karim Hendili, Director of the UNESCO Maghreb Office Karim, stressed the importance of this project in further strengthening ties between the UNESCO and Morocco.
“Supporting young talents would allow them to open up to new horizons in their professional career,” Hendili said, stressing the urgency of promoting the development of the music ecosystem across Morocco.
Mehdi Bensaid, Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, renewed in a Facebook post his ministry’s commitment to facilitate access to the artistic field, especially for youth.
The German Ambassador in Rabat Robert Dolger also attended the ceremony.
The artistic marathon is part of the ‘Musika#1’ initiative held last year.
Themed “Music as an engine for sustainable development in Morocco,” Musika#1 was implemented by the UNESCO Maghreb office to create new employment and income opportunities for young music enthusiasts in Morocco.
The 2021 artistic marathon saw the participation of several aspiring musicians, and 12 Moroccan music groups benefited from coaching sessions in order to develop their musical projects.
Many artists also participated in recording sessions organized by the Hiba Foundation.
For this year’s edition, the UNESCO launched the call for application of the “Musika#2” in April, encouraging both Moroccan artists and residents in Morocco to either apply solo or as a group of two to five people aged 18 to 35.
The project focuses on fostering Morocco’s cultural scene while giving aspiring artists international exposure by taking part in renowned festivals worldwide.
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