Visiting Rabat? Don’t miss a visit to the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art! The first national museum at Maroc entirely dedicated to modern and contemporary art, this major institution symbolizes the country’s commitment to promoting national and international artistic creation. We were impressed by its lively architecture and exhibitions that are as colorful as they are exciting!
In this article, you’ll find some useful tips to help you prepare for your visit and have a wonderful time!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why visit the Mohammed VI Museum?
Is the museum worth it? Our opinion:
Yes, the Musée Mohammed VI is definitely worth a visit for its majestic architectureand its remarkable collection of over 500 paintings and a dozen sculptures, perfectly showcased through eclectic temporary exhibitions.
When you come to this museum, you’ll discover as many great international names as local artists. For us, it’s one of the best things to do in Rabat!
Why is the Mohammed VI Museum famous?
The Mohammed VI Museum owes its renown to the initiative of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who wished to endow the country with its first national museum dedicated to modern and contemporary artistic creation. It is famous for hosting exhibitions that are unique not only on the African continent, but also in the Arab world, helping to make Rabat a part of world art history while promoting local artists.
Our favorite
We particularly enjoyed discovering the work of Moroccan writer and poet Abdellatif Laâbi, and in particular his poetic collaboration with contemporary visual artists.
Our favorite work wasHumus et de Lave, where Laâbi’s calligraphic poetry blends with Bouchalb Maoual’s drawings in a vibrant composition.
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History in brief
A museum at the service of art and culture
Inaugurated in 2014, the Musée Mohammed VI d’Art Moderne et Contemporain is an initiative of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The country’s first national museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art, it embodies a strong desire to democratize access to art.
Since its opening, the museum has hosted temporary exhibitions, mixing Moroccan artists with major figures on the global art scene, reinforcing its role in the cultural influence of Maroc.
Access: Mohammed VI Museum, Rabat
Where is the Mohammed VI Museum?
- Corner of Avenue Moulay El Hassan and Avenue Allal Ben Abdellah
- In the Hassan district of Rabat, capital of the Maroc
- Near the Museum of History and Civilization
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How to get there?
The Mohammed VI Museum is easily accessible from various points in the city.
If you’re coming from the train station, you can reach the museum in just 8 minutes on foot.
For those who have spent the morning at the magnificent Kasbah des Oudayas, take the L2 HMYA – YMS line of the tramway which links Bab Chellah and Place Al-Joulane, from where the museum is just a 10-minute walk away. We’ve found that the quickest and most convenient option is to take a cab.
Parking
Parking around the museum can be quite tricky, especially at peak times. We recommend that you opt for a space in the adjacent alleyways, notably rue d’Ifni, where you’ll find a public outdoor parking lot equipped with pay and display machines.
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
The Mohammed VI Museum can be visited all year round! Its air-conditioning in summer and heating in winter make it an ideal cultural destination whatever the season.
However, we recommend weekday mornings to enjoy the exhibition spaces in optimum conditions, with fewer visitors.
Length of visit and main difficulties
Allow between 1.5 and 2 hours for a leisurely tour of the museum.
The visit presents no particular difficulties: the spaces are large, airy and bright, making it a pleasure to wander around.
The entire museum is accessible to PRMs, with specialized facilities (toilets, elevators, parking) and wide spaces to make walking around easier.
Advice on how to visit
Let your curiosity take you on a natural journey from one discovery to the next. The signage is clear and the layout of the rooms has been designed to offer a coherent progression through the different exhibitions.
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Visiting with children
The Mohammed VI Museum has an educational room dedicated to children. However, we didn’t come across any specialized tour programs during our visit.
Schedules and rates
The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, closing on Tuesdays. Prices are as follows:
- Adults: 40 dhs (MAD)
- Moroccan children under 12: 15 dhs (MAD)
- Foreign visitors: 60 dhs (MAD)
Visit the official website for more info here.
We also recommend a visit to the museum after dark, as it is beautifully lit.
Guided tours
During our visit, we didn’t notice any specific program of regular guided tours. However, the museum does offer a number of cultural events that enrich the visiting experience. For example, you can attend film screenings in theauditorium. And don’t miss the bookshop, with its extensive selection of art books and design objects.
Catering
A charming tea room is available on site, ideal for a relaxing break during your visit.
Start your tour on the museum esplanade
A building with Arabo-Andalusian influences
As soon as we arrived, we were impressed by the museum’s majestic all-white neo-Moorish façade. This first architectural impression revolves around an elegant double-arched colonnade, complemented by delicate clerestories that filter the light beautifully. You’ll also notice that the monument, despite its traditional appearance, incorporates an ecological approach with its discreetly installed solar panels.
Don’t miss the fact that behind this traditional façade are hidden corridors, which in reality are veritable open-air art galleries. Here you’ll find large-scale frescoes by artists such asIlias Selfati, Ghizlane Agzenaï and Moustapha Zoufri.
We particularly enjoyed this colorful and vibrant introduction to the world of art!
Monumental sculptures to welcome visitors
Before entering the museum, take time to admire the remarkable sculptures that adorn the forecourt. We were particularly fascinated by this open-air collection, which demonstrates the museum’s mission to make art accessible.
You’ll discover, among other things:
- La Machine à rêver by Niki de Saint Phalle, one of the world’s greatest female artists, whose brightly colored Nanas immediately captivate the eye.
- The majestic Cheval by Botero, a Colombian artist whose style is instantly recognizable with its generous forms (on the right in the photo below).
- The mighty 3.20m-high Masai Warrior by Senegalese artistOusmane Sow(left in photo).
You’ll also find a fire sculpture in metal by Farid Belkahia, a leading figure in Moroccan art. We also appreciated the marble sculptures by Ikram Kabbaj, also from Morocco. This triptych of enigmatic shapes harks back to the origins of humanity.
This forecourt alone shows the plurality of forms and nationalities that the museum aims to bring together!
Uncluttered spaces to enhance the works of art
As we entered the museum, we immediately appreciated the design of the interior spaces, which are remarkably vast and uncluttered. The minimalist architecture is designed to showcase the works on display and invite contemplation.
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Discovering the museum’s works: between Moroccan art and international influences
It’s important to note that we visited the museum in 2024, and that the display of works will probably be different during your visit. The museum regularly renews its exhibitions to offer visitors a constantly enriched experience.
Group exhibition: Cuba’s art scene in the spotlight
We began our tour with a visit to the group exhibition featuring various Cuban artists. Entitled ” Across the Atlantic: Cuban Art “, this exhibition explored the evolution of Cuban art through the ages. We enjoyed discovering this vibrant scene, through a varied selection of works, mixing established artists such as Wifredo Lam and emerging talents like Esterlo Segura.
We also appreciated the diversity of forms represented!
Promoting Moroccan artists: Abdellatif Laâbi in the spotlight
One of the museum’s missions is to showcase the vitality of the Moroccan art scene. When we visited, we were particularly struck by the exhibition “Un poète passe”, dedicated to Abdellatif Laâbi, poet, publisher and committed painter.
This retrospective looked both at his founding role in the magazine Souffles, which shaped artistic thought at Maroc in the 1960s, and explored the artist’s many facets. We loved the mix of archival documents, publications, videos and even his painting experience!
Through this tribute, the museum underlined Laâbi’s impact on contemporary Moroccan creation, inscribing his work in a dialogue between commitment and artistic expression.
An international outlook: New York artists in the spotlight
Finally, we rounded off our visit with the discovery of four major artists on the New York scene: Helen and Brice Marden, Francesco Clemente and Julian Schnabel, testifying to the museum’s international ambitions. We particularly enjoyed the works of Helen Marden, integrating organic elements such as shells and feathers into colorful compositions, and the symbolic universe of Francesco Clemente.
The paintings below illustrate his style, blending mystical traditions from India with contemporary influences.
SHE MADE THE TRIP Myriam
