The Afourer Cultural Center is hosting from October 27 to November 3, 2024 the first edition of the Regional Visual Arts Fair organized by the Association of Friends of the Maison de la Culture for support and support, in partnership with the aforementioned Center . This edition, dedicated to the late Ahmed Cherkaoui, originally from the town of Boujaâd, aims to pay tribute to this eminent artist and to highlight the role of the association in the enhancement of cultural heritage and the promotion of visual arts in the region.
Hamid Machkouri, president of the Association of Friends of the Maison de la Culture, declared that the choice of Ahmed Cherkaoui for this first edition is a great tribute to an authentic artist from the region. “It is clear that this initiative will certainly become a tradition in which each edition will bear the name of a pioneer of Moroccan plastic art. Thus, the show aims to support and encourage visual artists in the region, to create a space for exchange, inspiration and dialogue between artists of different generations. The association considers this initiative as a way to strengthen the role of visual art in community development and to enrich the cultural scene,” he added.
According to Youssef Argab, director of the Afourer Cultural Center, a graduate of the National Institute of Fine Arts, the show welcomed artists from several cities, such as Boujaâd, Oued Zem, Beni Mellal, as well as other cities and localities in the region, with a notable presence of more than six local artists. “We are happy to see an increase in the participation of local artists, it is a positive development which testifies to the adhesion of plastic art to the culture of the region,” underlined Mr. Argab.
And added: “In addition to the collective exhibition, the association launched a competition to reward the first three winners of the show, with conservation of the works awarded by the association to encourage artistic creation. The event also focused on a competition dedicated to young artists on the theme “The Plastic Arts Fair in the spirit of the Green March and Independence Day”, celebrating these two major national events. This competition was organized in partnership with educational establishments in the region, both public and private, in order to involve children and stimulate their artistic expression and their patriotic sense.
Alongside the show’s activities, artistic workshops were organized for children and young people, notably at the Cultural Center for people with disabilities and in several schools in the region, allowing them to discover their talents and develop their drawing skills. and in plastic art. This activity is part of a broader program including various workshops and cultural meetings, including a round table entitled “The role of plastic art in the development of rural communities and the promotion of cultural tourism”, led by professors and researchers . This exchange generated positive enthusiasm and made it possible to formulate recommendations to strengthen cultural action in the region.
In a statement to ALM, the association, through its president Hamid Machkouri, expressed its wish to expand the circle of partners and supports for the next editions of the show, affirming its desire to surprise the public with innovative ideas in the future. Youssef Argab also wanted to thank the local authorities, in particular the head of the caïdat of Afourer, the regional director of culture of Béni Mellal-Khénifra, as well as the ministry of culture for their constant support to the Cultural Center while hoping give birth to a plastic arts gallery in Afourer in collaboration with the association.
“Through this event, the Association of Friends of the Maison de la Culture and the Afourer Cultural Center reaffirm their commitment to supporting the artistic movement and promoting the place of plastic art in the region, with a view to enriching the cultural landscape and to encourage new generations to contribute to the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage,” concluded Mr. Machkouri.
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