Rabat– Morocco and Germany have taken a significant step in strengthening cultural cooperation with the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between the National Museums Foundation (FNM) and the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK).
The agreement was signed on January 15, at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, marking a new phase in bilateral museum relations.
Speaking to Morocco World News (MWN), Mehdi Qotbi, President of the National Museums Foundation, welcomed the signing of the agreement, describing it as both symbolic and timely. “I am very happy today to be able to celebrate on the eve of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic recognition between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of Morocco,” he said.
The partnership seeks to develop joint initiatives in the museum, scientific, educational, and cultural fields, underlining a shared vision of heritage as a driver of intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding, and sustainable development.
SPK President, Marion Ackermann paid an official visit to Morocco for the occasion, and also spoke to MWN on the sidelines of the event.
“We would like to cooperate with a large foundation like yours, which oversees so many museums. Of course, we also want to work together on future projects, such as the planned Musée du Continent,” she said. Ackermann added that the agreement includes collaboration in education and co-curated exhibitions, particularly projects focusing on musical instruments and the tradition of modernism in 20th-century painting, incorporating Moroccan artistic traditions.
Built on expertise exchange and collection valorization, the partnership establishes a framework for collaborative projects aimed at serving the public and enhancing the international cultural presence of both institutions. Planned areas of cooperation include joint scientific research on tangible and intangible heritage, academic exchanges, and the organization of conferences and scholarly events.
Goethe-Institut Morocco initiated the collaboration with the support of the German Embassy in Rabat. The partnership builds on a long-standing and evolving cultural dialogue between the two countries.
Robert Dölger, German Ambassador to Morocco, also spoke to MWN, expressing pride in witnessing what he described as a landmark agreement. He noted that the partnership is the first of its kind in Africa, emphasizing its broader scope. “This project doesn’t only concern Morocco and Germany, but also involves other African partners. It is a project that goes beyond bilateral cooperation,” Dölger said.
The initiative also prioritizes capacity building and educational cooperation, with a focus on professional training in museum management, conservation, and restoration, as well as the development of educational programs for schools, families, and specialized groups. In addition, the two foundations plan to co-organize temporary exhibitions and cultural events to be hosted in both Morocco and Germany.
The agreement reflects a shared ambition to position museums as platforms for regional and international exchange, extending the impact of Moroccan-German cultural cooperation to the wider African continent.
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