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Fez — Morocco has inaugurated its national pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, marking a major cultural moment for the Kingdom on one of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art stages.
Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch opened the pavilion today, following instructions from King Mohammed VI, according to official reports. The Moroccan pavilion is located at the Arsenale, one of the Biennale’s historic exhibition sites.
Akhannouch visited the pavilion with a delegation that included Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, National Foundation of Museums (FNM) President Mehdi Qotbi, Morocco’s ambassador to Rome Youssef Balla, Morocco’s consul general in Verona Abdelilah Nejjari, and Moroccan pavilion commissioner Mohamed Benyacoub.
Morocco’s ‘Asǝṭṭa’ takes center stage
The pavilion presents “Asǝṭṭa,” a project led by Moroccan artist Amina Agueznay and curated by Meryem Berrada. The work explores the transmission of traditional craftsmanship, shared memory, and the symbolic idea of thresholds.
The project was selected after the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication launched a call for proposals to design and produce Morocco’s exhibition. The process drew 29 submissions from Moroccan artists and curators, with the final choice made after jury deliberations chaired by Qotbi.
“Asǝṭṭa,” the Amazigh word for the process of looming/weaving,places Moroccan artisanal knowledge at the center of contemporary artistic expression. The project reflects the country’s plural heritage while showing how craft, memory, and material practices can speak to current global debates in art.
The work also resonates with the Biennale’s 2026 theme, “In Minor Keys,” curated by the late Koyo Kouoh. The 61st International Art Exhibition runs from tomorrow to November 22 with previews held from May 6 to 8.
A global platform for Moroccan art
Morocco’s presence in Venice offers an opportunity to highlight the depth and diversity of the country’s contemporary art scene.
It also positions Moroccan artists and artisans within a wider international conversation on memory, innovation, and cultural transmission.
Founded in 1895, the Venice Biennale remains one of the most influential events in the international art calendar.
Held every two years, the art exhibition brings together national pavilions, curatorial projects, and artists from around the world.
