Anne-claire legendre embarks on inaugural Morocco cultural mission

Anne-Claire Legendre, President of the Institut du monde arabe (IMA), is set to undertake her first official visit to Morocco from June 19 to 24, 2026. This significant journey comes at the invitation of Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication. Her trip marks a pivotal moment, aiming to delineate the framework for a collaborative cultural roadmap between the esteemed Parisian institution and the Kingdom of Morocco, building upon preliminary discussions held over recent months.

The comprehensive six-day itinerary will see Ms. Legendre traverse key Moroccan cities, including Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech. Heralded as the inaugural official visit by the IMA President to Morocco, this tour is designed to facilitate crucial discussions with Minister Bensaid regarding the joint cultural agenda. Furthermore, the schedule includes high-level meetings with leaders of various Moroccan cultural institutions and foundations, alongside engagements with prominent figures across the nation’s vibrant cultural and creative landscape.

This visit is a direct continuation of a productive meeting previously held in Paris at the IMA headquarters, where Minister Bensaid and President Legendre convened. During this initial encounter, Minister Bensaid, visiting the IMA for the first time since Ms. Legendre’s appointment, collaborated closely with her to conceptualize a shared strategic plan. This plan specifically targets enhanced cooperation in what they termed “future cultural sectors,” with animation, comic books, the expansion of Arabic language literature, and cinema identified as key areas of focus.

It was following these initial exchanges that President Legendre expressed her firm intention to travel to Rabat to engage directly with Moroccan cultural entities. Minister Bensaid, for his part, underscored that this burgeoning cooperative dynamic aligns with the renewed impetus in relations between Paris and Rabat, particularly since French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco.

Anne-Claire Legendre assumed the presidency of the Institut du monde arabe on February 17, 2026, succeeding Jack Lang, who served for thirteen years. Her appointment is historic, as she is the first woman to hold this distinguished position since the institution’s inception. Prior to leading the IMA, she served as an advisor to the President of the French Republic for North Africa and the Middle East, a role she occupied from December 2023.

The Institut du monde arabe, under Ms. Legendre’s leadership, was established within a distinctive diplomatic context. Its foundational concept emerged on February 28, 1980, guided by a High Council comprising representatives from member states of the Arab League. Morocco stands among the 19 Arab nations that, alongside France, provided crucial financial contributions to establish this institution, envisioned as a vital bridge for dialogue among France, Europe, and the broader Arab world.

This period of institutional convergence extends beyond the IMA’s direct engagement. In March 2026, Ms. Legendre had already met in Paris with Mehdi Qotbi, the President of the National Museums Foundation. Their discussions explored potential partnerships between their respective institutions, a dialogue Mr. Qotbi situated within the framework of the “Enhanced Exceptional Partnership” between Morocco and France, driven by the shared vision of King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron.

The upcoming visit from June 19 to 24 is poised to translate these months of sustained bilateral exchanges into concrete actions and collaborations on Moroccan soil, further solidifying the cultural ties between the two nations.