Morocco and Germany advanced cultural cooperation significantly with a strategic partnership agreement signed January 15 between the National Museums Foundation (FNM) and Prussia’s Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) at Rabat’s Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. The agreement marks a new museum relationship phase.
FNM President Mehdi Qotbi welcomed the signing as both symbolic and timely, celebrating on the eve of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic recognition between Germany and Morocco. The partnership seeks developing joint initiatives in museum, scientific, educational, and cultural fields, underlining a shared heritage vision as an intercultural dialogue driver promoting mutual understanding and sustainable development.
SPK President Marion Ackermann expressed interest in cooperating with Morocco’s extensive museum network. She indicated the agreement includes educational collaboration and co-curated exhibitions, particularly projects focusing on musical instruments and 20th-century painting modernism incorporating Moroccan artistic traditions.
Built on expertise exchange and collection valorization, the partnership establishes a collaborative project framework serving the public and enhancing both institutions’ international cultural presence. Planned cooperation areas include joint scientific research on tangible and intangible heritage, academic exchanges, and conference organization.
German Ambassador Robert Dölger expressed pride in what he described as a landmark agreement—the first of its kind in Africa. He emphasized the partnership’s broader scope, noting it involves other African partners beyond Morocco and Germany, extending beyond bilateral cooperation.
The initiative prioritizes capacity building and educational cooperation, focusing on professional training in museum management, conservation, and restoration, alongside educational program development for schools, families, and specialized groups. Both foundations plan co-organizing temporary exhibitions and cultural events hosted in Morocco and Germany.
Goethe-Institut Morocco initiated the collaboration with German Embassy support, building on longstanding cultural dialogue between both countries. The agreement reflects shared ambition positioning museums as regional and international exchange platforms, extending Moroccan-German cultural cooperation impact across the African continent.
