Ima president anne-claire legendre’s landmark visit to Morocco to forge cultural ties

Anne-Claire Legendre, the esteemed President of the Institut du monde arabe (IMA), is set to embark on her inaugural official visit to Morocco from June 19 to 24, 2026. This significant journey comes at the invitation of Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, the Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication. Since her appointment to lead the Parisian institution last February, this marks her first trip to the Kingdom. The primary objective of this visit is to outline a comprehensive joint cultural roadmap between the IMA and Morocco, building upon the productive discussions held between both parties in recent months.

Her six-day itinerary will take her through the vibrant cities of Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech. Touted as the first official visit by the IMA President to Moroccan soil, the tour includes a crucial meeting with Minister Bensaid to finalize the collaborative roadmap. Additionally, Ms. Legendre is scheduled to engage with leaders from various Moroccan cultural institutions and foundations, alongside prominent figures within the nation’s dynamic cultural and creative sectors.

This impending visit directly follows a pivotal meeting held at the IMA headquarters in Paris, where Minister Bensaid was hosted for the first time since Anne-Claire Legendre assumed her presidency. During their discussions, both dignitaries focused on crafting a shared strategic vision aimed at bolstering cooperation across what they termed “future cultural sectors.” Key areas highlighted for collaboration included animation, comic books, the expansion of Arabic language literature, and cinema.

It was following these constructive exchanges in Paris that Ms. Legendre expressed her keen interest in traveling to Rabat to engage directly with Moroccan cultural institutions. Minister Bensaid, for his part, underscored how this renewed cooperative momentum aligns perfectly with the broader strengthening of relations between Paris and Rabat, a dynamic sparked by 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 had served in the role for thirteen years. Her appointment is historic, making her the first woman to hold this prestigious position since the institution’s founding. Prior to leading the IMA, she served as an advisor to the President of the Republic for North Africa and the Middle East, a role she held from December 2023.

The institution now under Ms. Legendre’s leadership was established amidst a unique diplomatic landscape. The concept for its creation dates back to 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 funding for the IMA’s establishment, envisioning it as a vital platform for dialogue connecting France, Europe, and the wider Arab world.

This period of enhanced institutional rapprochement extends beyond the IMA. In March 2026, Ms. Legendre had already met in Paris with Mehdi Qotbi, President of the National Museums Foundation. Their discussions explored potential partnerships between their respective institutions, a collaboration Mr. Qotbi emphasized was integral to the “Enhanced Exceptional Partnership” between Morocco and France, propelled by the leadership of King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron.

The forthcoming visit from June 19 to 24 is poised to translate these months of ongoing bilateral exchanges into tangible progress on Moroccan ground, further solidifying the strong cultural ties between the two nations.