The Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL) in Marrakech is poised for a transformative reopening in 2025, unveiling a new permanent exhibition that presents one of the most comprehensive collections of contemporary African art in the world.
Made possible by a substantial investment from Fondation Alliances, the museum will reopen on February 1, 2025, with enhanced gallery spaces and innovative features that promise to elevate the visitor experience and foster a deeper global appreciation of African creativity.
At the heart of this transformation is the new permanent exhibition, 7 Contours, 1 Collection, which will offer over 150 artworks from the Lazraq family’s extensive collection. Spanning diverse mediums, including painting, sculpture, textiles, photography, and multimedia installations, this exhibition will rotate its selection over time, highlighting the vibrancy and breadth of contemporary African art.
Organized into thematic galleries, it explores critical issues such as decolonization, globalization, and the environment, presenting the work of both emerging and established artists such as Joël Andrianomearisoa, Salah El Mur, Hassan Hajjaj, and more. This curated space also features contributions from leading academics and thinkers, fostering new dialogues and interpretations around the art on display.
Beyond the permanent collection, MACAAL’s renovation includes the addition of annual site-specific installations, a new media library, as well as redesigned public and gallery spaces that promise to enrich the visitor’s experience. These changes reflect the museum’s commitment to providing a dynamic and educational platform for contemporary African art.
The museum will commission two annual site-specific installations, with monumental works by Salima Naji and Aïcha Snoussi set to debut in 2025. Additionally, the new Artist Room will feature solo and group exhibitions, beginning with a show by French-Moroccan artist Sara Ouhaddou.
MACAAL will enhance its educational outreach by introducing a Timeline Room that links significant historical events with major artistic milestones and a New Media Library featuring a rich archive of digital, sound, and performance art by African artists from the 1990s to the present.
This facility will also serve as an important resource for students, researchers, and enthusiasts of contemporary African art, ensuring that the museum remains at the forefront of cultural development in Morocco and the wider continent.
As MACAAL prepares to reopen, it reaffirms its role as a vital hub for the promotion and appreciation of contemporary African art, providing a platform for global understanding and dialogue. This is not just an exhibition; it is a new chapter in the evolution of MACAAL—a commitment to accessibility, education, and the celebration of Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
