Moroccan Cultural Sector Reels as COVID-19 Closures Slash Events and Attendance

Since the lockdown, cultural exchanges have fallen by 60%, making the cultural sector the third most impacted by the health crisis. "The business world is doing badly!" said Latifa Seghini, commissioner of the Fouad Bellamine exhibition, a painter in Rabat, who had to postpone his retrospective twice. The opening of his exhibition finally took place on November 19, with about fifteen visitors out of a hundred guests. But the artist remains hopeful. "Since the exhibition will last a long time, I could do visits, especially of students, which is what I care about," he said, according to Rfi.

On the side of the Kabaret Cheikhates troupe, rehearsals are going well, even if the resumption is still far away. "Even before the lockdown period, there was no interest in this sector, so imagine now, it suits everyone that the theaters are closed," laments Ghassan El Hakim, director and actor, denouncing the lack of interest of the State for culture, yet existential for thousands of workers in this sector.

However, the Ministry of Culture had disbursed an envelope of nearly 3.5 million euros to support artistic creation. But the subsidy did not benefit the performing arts artists.

Thus, those heavily penalized by the crisis only want to resume their activity, even if the scale of the pandemic does not allow for an immediate resumption.