The Atlantic city of Essaouira was consecrated Friday as the city of Arts, Culture and Handicraft as King Mohammed VI launched there the establishment of a City of Arts & Culture and inaugurated an integrated crafts complex. These two projects translate the King’s firm will to preserve the artistic and cultural heritage of Essaouira, a city known for its plural identity and culture, and time-honored traditions of interfaith dialogue and Muslim-Jewish Coexistence. The two projects also mirror the Monarch’s determination to make of the sector of handicrafts a lever for economic and social development. During his stay in Essaouira, King Mohammed VI oversaw a facelift program of the city’s historical Medina, worth $300 million. The restorations are scheduled to be completed in 2023 and seek to develop the historical part of the city and boost its attractiveness to tourism.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 18, 2020 18:22 UTC