Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 10:49
Lisbon – Strengthening cooperation in the field of museums was at the center of intense activities carried out by the president of the National Museum Foundation (FNM), Mehdi Qotbi, on Tuesday in Lisbon.
Thus, Mr. Qotbi spoke with the Portuguese Minister of Culture, Dalila Rodrigues, on ways to consolidate cooperation between Portugal and Morocco in the museum field. This meeting, attended by the Moroccan ambassador to Portugal, Othmane Bahnini, and the Portuguese ambassador to Rabat, Carlos Pereira Marques, was an opportunity to explore the possibility of organizing a joint exhibition between Morocco , Portugal and Spain.
During this meeting, it was emphasized that the objective of such an initiative is to “highlight the rich cultural heritage of the three countries, in the context of hosting the 2030 World Cup, an event which will be held for the first time in two different continents”. It will also promote the role and importance of culture and the arts in strengthening links between communities and building bridges between people, like football.
Furthermore, the president of the FNM participated in the work of an international conference organized in the Portuguese capital on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the opening of the “Maria Helena Vieira da Silva and Árpád Szenes” museum. An event dedicated to the pre-eminence and relevance of the works of the great Portuguese artist Vieira da Silva.
In a speech on this occasion, Mr. Qotbi highlighted “the importance of the works of this eminent artist and her exceptional contribution to the enrichment of the contemporary artistic landscape of the 20th century”, recalling in this sense the organization of the successful exhibition “Maria Helena Vieira da Silva and Árpád Szenes: a story of love and art” at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, from October 18, 2023 to February 15, 2024.
On the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Qotbi presented the photo album of the exhibition held in Morocco to the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who praised the cultural cooperation between Rabat and Lisbon. The Portuguese president welcomed the organization of an exhibition dedicated to a Portuguese artist with particular significance and enjoying an exceptional place among the Portuguese in Morocco, “a friendly and brother country of Portugal”.
