The Foundation for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage of Rabat, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, held the third annual edition of the “Drawing my Heritage” awards ceremony on Monday, June 12, 2023, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Preschool and Sports, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the Moroccan Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS – Morocco), the National Institute of Agronomic Research and the Tetouan National Institute of Fine Arts.
Over 120 illustrations and stories were produced for this edition and the written submissions were revisited by young calligraphers. Alongside the ceremony, an exhibition showcasing the children’s work further illustrated the productions of “Drawing my Heritage’s” third edition.
The Foundation also published a book for the edition, showcasing the children’s artwork and tales, and raising the profile of the young artists’ work by making it available online at www.fspcrabat.ma.
The ceremony was packed with activities, including a visit to the children’s exhibition, a film presentation, a play by young schoolchildren on the topic of immaterial cultural heritage, a Moroccan heritage song performed by students from Rabat schools, and an award ceremony with prizes and certificates to participants: schoolchildren, teachers, inspectors, school principals, and supervisors…
This year, the Foundation and its partners chose to focus on immaterial cultural heritage, introducing storytelling and drawing to further consolidate the children’s bond with their selected heritage object.
This year’s event introduced over 1,200 children to the concept of immaterial cultural heritage, by way of a research program, as well as visits to heritage sites and cultural institutions organized by the Foundation and its partners. Visits included the Medina (Avenue des Consuls, Rue El Gza), the Qasbah des Oudaias, the National Finery Museum and the Atlas Lions exhibition at the Rabat zoological garden. 120 schoolchildren attended a regional workshop, led by teachers, inspectors, and art students, and produced the artworks exhibited at the awards ceremony.
About the “Drawing my Heritage” program
Drawing my Heritage is an educational program aimed at schoolchildren, run in conjunction with International Monuments and Sites Day. Spearheaded by the Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the National Institute of Agronomic Research, and ICOMOS-Morocco. The program aims to raise children’s awareness of Rabat’s heritage values through artistic and visual creation. Budding artists are first introduced to heritage through in-class research and guided tours under the guidance of curators of historic sites and monuments. They are then mentored by art inspectors and teachers. Their creations are then exhibited at the awards ceremony and on the Foundation’s website.
In addition to these specific programs, the Foundation uses its networking capabilities to support schoolchildren and college students in international networking and the sharing of information and ideas around heritage education.
About the Foundation for the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of Rabat.
The Foundation for the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of Rabat was created by His Majesty King Mohamed VI to preserve the material, immaterial and landscape heritage of the city of Rabat. “Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage” with eight major historical sites has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012.
Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, who chairs the Foundation, defined and initiated a comprehensive policy to raise the awareness of both inhabitants and visitors. A city’s heritage is only preserved sustainably when its population appreciates its value and takes ownership thereof.
The Foundation develops programs around three main pillars – educating, raising awareness and bringing people together. A powerful catalyst for inclusion and cohesion, Rabat’s heritage is a genuine driver of social, economic and cultural development. The Foundation regularly runs heritage discovery programs for the general public, especially targeting young people, to build an emotional connection that ensures respect for and preservation of this heritage.
Foundation programs target a variety of audiences, including the general public, professionals, institutions, private actors, and young people. As part of its educational programs, the Foundation develops educational kits, cultural heritage mediation platforms with the “Heritage Digitalization” program, in addition to hosting scientific workshops. Experts from all continents are invited to share, exchange, and advance the valuable cause of preserving cultural heritage in Morocco.
This work, carried out in a collaborative approach, combines expertise and resources, and brings together institutional, public and private actors to assert the importance of heritage protection in the Kingdom.
