The Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden has been given the “Musée du Maroc” label by the National Museums Foundation. The label is a state mark of quality for museums that meet strict rules on how they care for art, run research and welcome the public.
Backed by the Alliances Foundation, the museum says the award recognises more than ten years of work supporting contemporary African artists and widening access to culture.
Based in Marrakech, the museum opened in 2016 as one of the first private museums in Africa focused only on contemporary African art. It was created by the Alliances Foundation and is led by Othman Lazraq. Today it manages a collection of more than 2,000 artworks. Alongside exhibitions, the museum runs artist residencies, education programmes for local communities and a sculpture park in the Al Maaden area.
The “Musée du Maroc” label was introduced as part of national museum reforms, including Law 56-20. It works as a guarantee that a museum meets high standards in research, conservation and visitor experience. For a private museum, it also means official recognition as part of Morocco’s national heritage.
The award comes as Morocco’s museum sector expands. In April 2026, the National Museums Foundation signed a cooperation deal with Japanese cultural institutions in Rabat to share expertise. Marrakech hosted major cultural events in March, strengthening its reputation as a gateway to African art markets.
The foundation is also digitising collections so people can visit labelled museums online.
Plans for a National Football Museum are moving forward with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, showing the label will cover sports and popular history as well as art.
