National Moroccan museums first emerged around 1912 as a result of the efforts of colonial powers. These new institutions, including the Museum of Moroccan Art in Rabat, were established by the Franco-Spanish Protectorate Treaty. The first legislation concerning the preservation of cultural heritage in Morocco followed soon thereafter, in 1913. This Treaty especially protected crafts and traditional Moroccan art, and then expanded to all things related to Moroccan culture.
A renewed interest in the local arts of Morocco resulted in the opening of the first museums. Most of these were set up in historic buildings in Marrakech, Essaydi’s birthplace, such as the Dar Si Said Museum. Other cities, such as Rabat and Tangier, followed suit soon after and accommodated a small group of museums that expanded progressively.
One festival that is particularly innovative is the biannual Arts in Marrakech International Biennale, an interdisciplinary arts festival that was founded by Vanessa Branson (sister of Richard Branson of Virgin Group, and champion of international cultural and environmental initiatives) in 2004 (launched in 2005). The festival takes place in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, Lalla Essaydi’s hometown. The mission of the festival, according to their website, is to “promote the status of the artist and contemporary culture in North Africa.” The Biennale’s mission is to “build bridges between the cultures through the arts,” and is a celebration of creativity and a gathering of art enthusiasts who organize conferences, interactive events, and major exhibitions. Every year, the festival showcases works by artists, writers, and filmmakers from Morocco and around the world. The Marrakech Biennale is housed in the Palais Bahia in Marakkech near the medina, or old center, of the city, which was built in the 1890s by Bou Ahmed. It served as the living quarters of the French resident general during France’s colonial rule over Morocco. Coincidentally, much of the art showcased there deals with politics and identity, much like the art of Lalla Essaydi.
Morocco gained its independence from French and Spanish colonial rule in 1956. It was not until 1986 with the establishment of the Ministry of Culture that Moroccan specialists were trained and assigned to different museums throughout the country. In 1992, a Department of Museology was opened at the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Sciences. Within that forty-year time span, seven museums opened. These were: the archaeological museum of Larache (1979), the ethnographic museum at Chefchaouen (1985), the ethnographic museum at Essaouira (1989), the ceramic museum at Safi (1990), the Museum of Modern Art in Tangier (1990), and most recently, the museum of Western Saharan art at Laayoune (2000). Since the mid-1990s, initiatives have been taken to incorporate international museum standards into the practices of state and private museums. These international practices are similar to those promoted by the International Council of Museums, or ICOM.