A declaration of intent for a partnership between Morocco's Fondation Nationale des Musées (FNM) and the Île-de-France Region was signed on Monday at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat. Signed by FNM President Mehdi Qotbi and Île-de-France Regional Council President Valérie Pécresse, the agreement outlines plans for the major inaugural Mediterranean exhibition, which will coincide with the opening of the Cité de la Culture Africaine – Musée du Continent. Following this first collaboration, both parties have committed to developing their cooperation further through concrete initiatives. These include sharing expertise in the conservation and acquisition of contemporary African art, implementing educational programs tailored to the future museum's visitors, and arranging loans from the Île-de-France Regional Fund for Contemporary Art (Frac) collection. Speaking at the event, Qotbi emphasized Morocco's key role as a «gateway» to Africa and a «bridge» connecting Africans to Europe. Describing art and culture as «the best bridges and gateways» for mutual understanding, the FNM President said he was pleased to welcome Pécresse, who had come to explore Morocco's artistic wealth and learn more about FNM's plans for Africa. For her part, Pécresse noted that nearly one million residents of Île-de-France have ties to Morocco, enriching the region's cultural, artistic, and economic life. She also pointed out that two Franco-Moroccan vice presidents currently serve on her executive team. «We were deeply honored that Mr. Qotbi chose the director of the Frac Île-de-France collection to help curate and pre-select works for the Musée du Continent's inaugural exhibition», she said, adding that the full expertise of Frac Île-de-France would be made available to FNM to identify, support, promote, and showcase African talent. The signing ceremony was preceded by a tour of the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, where Pécresse, accompanied by a delegation from the Île-de-France Regional Council, explored works by French-Moroccan writer, poet, and painter Tahar Ben Jelloun, along with pieces by contemporary Moroccan artists.
