Asilah’s Cultural Season Shines On, Honoring the Vision of Its Late Founder
The 46th edition of the Asilah International Cultural Moussem celebrates creativity in the absence of its cultural architect. Fez – Despite the absence of its founder and longtime patron, the late Mohamed Benaissa, the Asilah International Cultural Moussem has returned in full spirit this summer, transforming the Atlantic town into an open-air studio of color and culture. Now in its 46th edition, the annual event continues to draw artists, writers, and musicians from across Morocco and around the world. This year’s summer session includes mural workshops in the medina, children’s art activities, literary forums, additionally to theater and music performances, preserving the legacy of what Benaissa built into a global cultural beacon. Under the bright sun and amid the narrow lanes of Asilah’s historic center, local children paint side-by-side with established artists, turning blank walls into collaborative murals. Small hands grip brushes, guided by professionals from Spain, France, Lithuania, Syria, and Morocco; each bringing their own story and style. It’s a joyful sight that blends generations and reflects the core ethos of the festival: shared artistic expression and community enrichment. “This Moussem is our collective heritage,” said Hatim El Battioui to Hespress, Secretary General of the Asilah Forum Foundation, which organizes the event. “Even in the absence of Benaissa, we remain committed to his vision: fostering creativity, cultural dialogue, and artistic freedom.” Benaissa, who passed away in February 2025, was more than just a founder—he was the spirit of the festival, infusing it with ambition and internationalism for nearly half a century. His passing casts a long shadow, but the organizers and townspeople are determined to continue his work with the same passion and purpose. This year’s edition features 17 muralists, literary workshops for children, and theater training programs co-organized with local NGOs. There’s also a special music education residency in partnership with the Bahrain Institute for Oriental Music. Throughout the medina, visitors encounter vibrant street scenes, impromptu performances, and children proudly explaining their brushwork to curious tourists. Locals note that the Moussem has long been more than just a festival—it’s part of the town’s identity. It has helped shape generations of young creatives and positioned Asilah as a model for cultural tourism and civic engagement. “We grew up watching these walls come to life every summer,” said one Asilah native. “It taught us that art is not just something you visit in a museum. It’s something you live with—and something you create.” Even without its “spiritual father,” the Moussem remains a vibrant symbol of cultural resilience. As new voices carry forward Benaissa’s legacy, Asilah continues to prove that art—rooted in memory, driven by community—can outlast even its most visionary founders.
Asilah’s 46th International Cultural Season Returns This Summer with Art, Music, and Youth Programs
Morocco’s beloved coastal town is preparing to host the summer chapter of its 46th cultural season. Fez– Asilah’s long-running cultural legacy continues to thrive. The 46th edition of the “Asilah International Cultural Season” is officially set to kick off its summer session from Sunday, June 29 to Sunday, July 6, bringing another wave of creativity, color, and community to the historic coastal town. The event is being put on by the Asilah Forum Foundation, in partnership with Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, alongside the Asilah Municipality. With a dynamic mix of visual arts, educational workshops, and creative programs for children and youth, this year’s summer edition reinforces Asilah’s status as a major cultural hub on the Mediterranean. At the heart of the summer session is the iconic “mural painting workshop” in the old medina, a tradition that began back in 1978 and has since turned Asilah’s ancient walls into a living canvas. This year, 17 artists from Spain, France, Lithuania, Romania, Syria, and Morocco will take part. Alongside them, children will also have their own dedicated mural workshop, adding fresh layers to the city’s collective art. The program isn’t limited to visual expression, as they were also be literary and musical workshops tailored for young audiences, with the later to be hosted by the Bahrain Institute of Oriental Music. Professional musicians will guide participants through interactive sessions designed to awaken musical curiosity in younger generations. This summer’s schedule also includes hands-on training for youth, mothers, and children in theater and personal development, organized in partnership with the local association Zili Art and hosted at Dar Sabah for Solidarity. The organizers say that these workshops aim to cultivate not only creative expression but also confidence and communication skills among the participants. A year-round affair Asilah’s cultural season is no longer limited to the summer. In a strategic expansion, the Asilah Forum Foundation confirmed that the 46th edition will unfold in “hree chapters across the year: Spring, Summer, and Fall. The Spring session, held in April, focused on the plastic arts and featured workshops in engraving, lithography, and painting. Twenty-two artists from Morocco, Bahrain, Spain, Syria, Romania, Belgium, and the UK took part. Young talents also had their moment in the spotlight. The season’s Child’s Studio welcomed groups of children for creative sessions guided by professional artists. Additionally, the Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Library hosted literary workshops orchestrated around travel literature, producing a collection of poetry and narrative works that the foundation will publish. In addition, the Spring session saw a special cultural trip to the International Book and Publishing Fair, where children attended a tribute event for the late Mohamed Benaissa, founder of the foundation and the festival’s visionary. Finally, the art exhibition “Asilah Seasons 24” opened in April, and will run through September 7 at the Hassan II International Center. It showcases works produced during the foundation’s 2024 art workshops, featuring artists from across the Arab world, Europe, and Africa, including creations by children under the “Season Talents” segment. With these abounding events, Asilah is once again proving that culture, when nurtured year-round, becomes a force for imagination, inclusion, and growth. Read also: Ford Set to Launch All-New 2026 Ford Territory Hybrid in Morocco
