From June 12 to 14, 2026, nearly one hundred painters gathered at the Aghbalou Rural Educational Complex in the Ourika Valley, Al Haouz Province, for a unique artistic residency combining creativity with social commitment.
Organized by the Avenir Toubkal Association, the initiative aims to support the reconstruction of the educational complex, which serves approximately 1,600 students each year from villages across Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains.
Established in 1999 under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and officially opened in 2003, the Aghbalou Rural Educational Complex has become a cornerstone of rural education in the region. By providing boarding facilities, meals and educational support, it enables children from remote mountain communities to pursue their studies under favorable conditions.
After more than two decades of continuous service, the complex now requires a complete reconstruction. The project, estimated at 7.5 million Moroccan dirhams, is supported by Morocco’s National Initiative for Human Development (INDH).
To help finance the project, participating artists donated original works, including paintings, drawings and watercolors. These artworks will form a collective collection to be acquired by a foundation, with proceeds directly funding the reconstruction effort.
The initiative was launched by Abdelaaziz Bouifraden, founder and president of the Avenir Toubkal Association and a native of the village of Ilkri in the High Atlas. A businessman and communication professional, Bouifraden has long been committed to the development of his home region.
The artistic residency was curated by painter Fatna Chanane, honorary president of the French-Moroccan association CÉSAME. Convinced that art can be a powerful driver of social change, she successfully mobilized nearly one hundred artists from diverse backgrounds and generations around a common cause.
Beyond its artistic dimension, the project highlights the role of culture as a tool for social transformation, solidarity and educational development, turning artistic expression into tangible support for future generations in rural Morocco.
