Morocco launched the fourth edition of the \u201cTreasures of Moroccan Traditional Arts\u201d program in Rabat on Monday, reinforcing efforts to preserve endangered craft professions, transmit traditional skills to younger generations, and promote the country\u2019s living cultural heritage through a partnership between the State Secretariat in charge of Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy and UNESCO.<\/p>\n
The new edition focuses on ten traditional crafts identified as being at risk of disappearing. Twelve master artisans were awarded the title of \u201cTreasures of Moroccan Traditional Arts\u201d and will train 120 young apprentices, both men and women, through an integrated program that combines practical instruction, educational support, and skills development.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Secretary of State for Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy Lahcen Essaadi said the initiative serves as an educational and human platform designed to protect traditional crafts from extinction while creating new opportunities for the economic integration of Moroccan youth. He also highlighted the ongoing partnership with UNESCO and noted that the program aligns with Morocco\u2019s commitment to the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.<\/p>\n
UNESCO Regional Director and Representative for the Maghreb Charaf Ahmimed emphasized the value of human transmission in preserving craftsmanship. He said Moroccan master artisans embody a longstanding relationship between people and materials, turning craftsmanship into a continuous dialogue between memory and the future. He added that while technological advances and artificial intelligence can support documentation efforts, they cannot replace the human dimension of knowledge transfer.<\/p>\n
The ceremony introduced a new initiative called \u201cAmbassadors of Moroccan Handicrafts\u201d under a cooperation agreement between the State Secretariat and UNESCO. The program seeks to mobilize prominent figures to promote Moroccan handicrafts internationally and raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding ancestral know how.<\/p>\n
The event also paid tribute to renowned Moroccan actress Fadila Benmoussa in recognition of her artistic career and her connection to Morocco\u2019s cultural heritage.<\/p>\n
To strengthen the attractiveness of manual professions, a framework agreement was signed between the State Secretariat, the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts and Cultural Animation, and the Friends of the Institute Foundation. The partnership aims to create specialized training pathways linking handicrafts with the performing arts sectors, including cinema, theater, and television.<\/p>\n
In addition, a partnership agreement was concluded with the National Observatory for Human Development to establish a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the professional integration of program graduates into the labor market.<\/p>\n
Since its launch, the \u201cTreasures of Moroccan Traditional Arts\u201d program has intervened in 42 traditional crafts, with 17 already safeguarded. The initiative has honored 32 master artisans for their role in preserving traditional knowledge.<\/p>\n
The program has also provided training to more than 400 apprentices across Morocco\u2019s regions, including 150 who successfully completed their qualifications.<\/p>\n
The event concluded with the signing of contracts related to the third edition of the program involving 15 master artisans. The agreements formalize the transmission phase for apprentices in the 15 professions targeted during the previous edition and reinforce Morocco\u2019s long term strategy to preserve its cultural and identity heritage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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