Art Rally for Earthquake Victims in Marocco continues On the 8th of September 2023 a massive
raise money for rebuilding parts of the affected
earthquake hit the High Atlas Mountains in
cities. Further auctions are planned in Decem-
Morocco, affecting thousands of people, with
ber.
almost 3000 deaths. The catastrophe also
Another crucial organisation has been the
destroyed large parts of the infrastructure and
“Artists for Morocco” collective of artists,
over 50 000 houses, according to the BBC.
which was brought into life by the editor Samira
The damage also includes important historical
Larouci, the designer Ismail Elaaddioui and the
sites like the ancient Jewish quarter in the city
photographer Anass Quaziz, immediately after
of Marrakech. Many of the city’s museums and
the earthquake hit. The organisation has raised
art installations have been affected as well and
210 000 € so far and plans to continue its work,
art organisations within the country have
mainly donating the money towards the “Rif
organised some projects to help with the
Tribes Foundation”, which supports secluded
rebuilding and recovery of the city.
villages, which otherwise can’t get much help, and the “Amal Women’s Training Centre”,
Museums in the centre of the city have been
which is a women’s charity for food delivery. In
especially affected, with severe structural
total, “Artists for Morocco” has provided help
damage and the danger of the buildings
across 16 villages for more than 2700 people.
collapsing. But not only art museums have suffered,
many
artists
have
lost
their
Larouci, one of the founders, states that this
workspaces or even their homes, like M’barek
organisation has proven “art’s ability to heal”
Bouhchichi, whose studio was located near the
and looks forward to promoting Moroccan
Atlas Mountains and was extremely damaged
artists along with international artists, through
by the earthquake.
and after the crisis, with a special focus on promoting local artists. She also highlights how
In light of this crisis, many organisations and
crucial it is for “Artists for Morocco” to
institutions have collected and donated money
continue its work especially in the winter
to the local communities since September, like
months, where many people live in tents and
the commercial gallery “Comptoir des Mines”,
will not be shielded from the cold.
which raised 100 000 €.
Eric Falt, regional director of the UNESCO in
On the 28th of October, an auction was held at
Maghreb has announced on the 21st of
the “Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and
November, that UNESCO will support Mo-
Contemporary Art” in Rabat, which included
rocco in the recovery of what was lost.
many professional artists, and which helped 4
