Visual Arts

Cinema & Video

Architecture

Performing Arts

Literature

International Art Exhibition

Opportunities with the Marrakech Biennale

� �

“From being the first contemporary arts festival in North Africa, the Marrakech Biennale has grown to become the leading international biennale in the region, promoting artistic exchange and dialogue between cultures.

Situated at the foothills of the majestic Atlas mountains and simultaneously on the edge of the Sahara Desert, Marrakech is a historic crossroads and meeting-point between North, South, East and West. It is a city that has defined itself as a center of creativity and artistic celebration. Thus, being a unique place to embody a trilingual exchange of ideas and artistic content.

Over the editions, the Marrakech Biennale has become a recognized event that radiates both in Africa and beyond the continent. Today, nearly ten years after its creation and on the eve of its 5th edition, the Biennale of Marrakech offers locally produced works by national and international artists.

We look forward to having you with us to experience stimulating, new perspectives, and partake in an exceptional gathering place for contemporary arts in Africa.”

Vanessa Branson, President & Founder Amine Kabbaj, Executive Vice-President

� �

Visual Arts

Cinema & Video

Architecture

Performing Arts

Literature

Introduction to the Marrakech Biennale 5

The 5th Edition: “Where Are We Now?” 12

Opportunities for your company 19

Unique venues of the Marrakech Biennale 25

Contents

� �

Introduction

The Marrakech Biennale is a celebration of creativity in a city that has been the focus of artistic exploration for centuries but with limited emphasis on contemporary art. It is now a gathering of arts enthusiasts who organize stimulating conferences, interactive events and world-class exhibitions.

In 2005 with the rise of global tensions, The Marrakech Biennale was envisioned as a cultural festival that would build cultural bridges through the arts, and inspire artists from all over the world to create exceptional pieces in dialogue with the magical environment of Marrakech.

The Biennale has grown to become an internationally recognized event with a thriving visual art, architecture, performing art, literature and cinema & video programme.

�

Visual Arts

Cinema & Video

Architecture

Performing Arts

Literature

The Marrakech Biennale is a multi-disciplinary non-profit event that gives an excellent opportunity for companies to support the arts, and position their brands in a creative and unique environment. An inspirational platform attracting an international audience whilst engaging the local population.

•  Artistic program should stimulate, educate and entertain •  100% externally-funded by sponsors and benefactors,

without influencing creative content •  Maintain size, scope and quality of main exhibition •  Encourage parallel projects and fringe program •  Maintain balance between artistic disciplines (literature, art,

cinema & video, performance and architecture) •  Provide an international focus on Morocco’s burgeoning

artistic scene and talent •  Wherever possible, encourage the use of locally-based

personnel and resources •  Innovate and re-energize the artistic program by inviting new

talent •  Ensure the presence of an active, participatory education

program with local institutions •  Aspire to be multi-lingual (Arabic, French and English)

Core Principles

Introduction!

�

"The Marrakech Biennale 2012 combined an inspirational exhibition in the dramatic setting of the Theatre Royal with enlightening discussions and screenings, all against the backdrop of an historic and exotic city. A truly uplifting experience" 

Matthew Bannister, BBC

� �

Visual Arts

Cinema & Video

Architecture

Performing Arts

Literature

MB4 attracted 54,000 visitors from all over the world. This is nearly 70% more than our 3rd edition. We continue to grow, in reputation and in number.

Introduction

The Audience:

Professionals and enthusiasts of the contemporary art world, including curators, artists, museum directors, collectors, students, foundations and art dealers. They mingle with professionals from the industries of architecture, design, fashion and communications; trendsetters, influential entrepreneurs, VIPs and opinion leaders, high net-worth individuals and government officials.

Our media coverage is both national and international – in all channels.

� �

Past Participants

  Yto Berada   Abdellah Taia   Chi Wo Leung   Zadie Smith   Faouzi Bensaidi   Ben Okri   Julian Schnabel   Annie Lennox   Alan Yentob   Gabriel Range   Jurgen Meyer

…among many others.

“The biennale in Marrakech is unlike any arts festival in the world. It's more intimate, more colourful, more surprising and more uplifting. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Anthony Horowitz, Award Winning Author

  Kevin MacDonald   Matthew Bannister   Ali Benmakhlouf   Geoff Dyer   Guy Tillem

�

Visual Arts

Cinema & Video

Architecture

Performing Arts

Literature

With the help of the British Council, the Marrakech Biennale created an internship programme for students at Marrakech’s public university, Cadi Ayyad. The aim was to create intercultural links and exchange between the students and the artists of the Biennale. Once the 4th edition of the Biennale came to an end, each student was given a diploma and a semester worth of university credit. Of the 44 interns that helped make the Biennale a success, 9 got jobs from partnering companies and institutions.

For our next edition, we plan on expanding the internship & workshop programmes.

Young Leader’s Programme

� � �

An international multi-disciplinary contemporary art

event that stimulates ideas, debates and discussions�th edition

February 26th, 2014 – March 31, 2014�

� � �

Visual Arts

Cinema & Video

Architecture

Performing Arts

Literature

The fifth edition of Marrakech Biennale asks “Where are we now?” through a dialogue between five disciplines: visual art, cinema and video, literature, performing art and architecture. 

Starting with a snapshot of the contemporary Marrakech, this edition will draw a new mapping with the subjective perspective of Marrakech in the center to reveal and analyze axes of influence elaborated through concentric circles.

Marrakech is living a key moment in its history as an exceptional crossroad: the red city is deeply rooted in Morocco, the Maghreb and Africa; yet through its history, its economy, culture and media, Marrakech is also strongly connected with the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Asia.���

The priority of the Biennale is to gather local, regional and international audience around this momentum in order to create a cultural dialogue elaborating answers to the question “Where are we now?”.  ���

This node will be connected to ten curated parallel projects widening the elaboration of answers to this theme. Moreover, as a participatory Biennale, fringe projects will pop up everywhere in the city during the time frame of the Marrakech Biennale. ���

We will launch the 5th Edition on February 26th, 2014. ���

THEME: Where Are We Now?

-Alya Sebti, Artistic Director MB5

� � �

Visual Arts

Cinema & Video

Architecture

Performing Arts

Literature

Marrakech Sites & Biennale Venues

� � �

Visual Arts

Cinema & Video

Architecture

Performing Arts

Literature

What to Expect in 2014

  Conferences of literature, a architecture, cinema & visual arts

  Film Screenings   Curator Conferences   Architecture Workshops   Exhibitions   Sound & Video Installations   Projections   Poetry Readings and Symposiums   Press Conference   Theatre, Music & Dance Performances

The 5th edition will be held in 2014, from 26th of February to March 31st, directed by Alya Sebti & Alia Radman.

The preview days will be, on the 24th & 25th of February at which point Marrakech transforms into a magical city filled with creative energy harmonizing the ancient and the modern.

This exciting period is marked by its press conferences, openings, social gatherings, exclusive parties as well as stimulating discussions between artists, critics and opinion leaders from various sectors.

� � �

Each edition is curated by a new team of renowned curators

The selection of the 5th edition is

Hicham Khalidi Visual Arts

Alexandre Kauffmann & Bouchra Khalili

Cinema & Video

Driss Ksikes Literature

Karim el Achak Architecture

Khalid Tamer Performing Arts

� �

The Marrakech Biennale provides spaces and resources for various publics to participate in events and broaden their perspectives. Through workshops, seminars and other educational activities, participants can exchange ideas, collectively inspire one another and embrace the spirit of creativity through smaller gatherings.

A hub for intellectual stimulation & new perspectives

Various activities include:   Guided tours   Multi-disciplinary workshops   Multimedia workshops   In-depth seminars   Fun and games in ateliers

Activity participants:   Students   Scholars and faculty   Schools and universities   Children and families   Art lovers   Experts & professionals   Companies

Activities are available in three languages (Arabic, French & English)

Specific activities, such as tours can be customized to specific requests and interests of participants.

� �

Visual Arts

Cinema & Video

Architecture

Performing Arts

Literature

Cooperating means being part of the most important international art event in North Africa���

17  

Opportunities for Companies

A partnership with us offers an extraordinary opportunity for companies to position themselves in a uniquely creative, stimulating and transforming environment like Marrakech.

The Marrakech Biennale prides itself on artistic freedom, open debate, cultural and artistic diversity and is one of the few front runner of artistic trends in the continent. Cooperating with us means being part of the most important event for contemporary art in North Africa. Companies have access to a genuinely fresh and yet rapidly thriving place to spread, publicise and link with the image of the Biennale.

� � �

Visual Arts

Cinema & Video

Architecture

Performing Arts

Literature

The Marrakech Biennale and the varying events that it hosts, attracts the attention of many talented people of the creative elite and professionals from the industries of architecture, design, fashion and communications. For them the event is a source of inspiration and a great opportunity to link with creative ideals.

Partners & supporters create awareness for their brands and products among a broad international audience.

Reaching a broad audience

� �

Worldwide media attention ���

The Marrakech Biennale has solid and rising media attention. It receives it from both international, regional, and local media. The last edition in 2012 attracted more than tenfold the coverage received in the 3rd edition in 2009. The range of national and international journalists produced media featured in newspapers, art and design magazines, tourist media, fashion and women's media, men's magazines, online media, TV stations, online media, radio stations and many more.

20  

� � �

� � � � �� � � � � � �

� � � � � � � � � �

� � � � � � � � � � � � � �

� � � � � � �

Ways for companies to collaborate

Different cooperation levels

The Marrakech Biennale distinguishes between four types of support

Official Partner (max 2), Main Sponsor (max 3), Premium Sponsor (max 6) and Sponsor. Statuses are defined by the sponsor's choice of services, visibility and presentation opportunities as well as by the company's level of exclusivity and contributions in cash and/or in kind.

It is also possible for companies to engage in longer term partnerships.i.e. by sponsoring several events in a row or by combining sponsorships of different events.

Naturally, each cooperation partner is granted industry exclusivity and use of Biennale’s event logo for own communication activities.

� � �

We customise each package for each partner

Joint Partnerships:

To accentuate a sponsoring partnership, the biennale and selected sponsors may conduct special joint activities, upon agreement.

Based on shared goals and mutual advantages, activities are developed in close cooperation between the biennale and the sponsor.

Examples of such joint activities are educational programs, pavilions, parties, and events.

Depending on the company's goals and desired level of involvement, the Marrakech Biennale is prepared to jointly design an individual plan for the cooperation and sponsoring activities, which match the company’s intentions and expectations.

Our team is open to discussing creative sponsoring ideas and suggestions from companies, and provide ideas and support upon request.

  Exhibition catalogue (15,000 copies in Arabic, English & French)   Official programme and short guide   Official map (50,000 copies)   Official website incl. link to company website   In- and outdoor advertising banners in Marrakech, Casablanca & Rabat   Press conference backdrops   Exhibition Tickets (approx. 100,000)   Personal invitations for the exclusive pre-view   events (approx. 25,000)   Social networking online campaigns

23  

Partners have their name and logo published on a variety of official communication materials ���

OTHER BENEFITS • Company press release in official press package • Acquiring exclusive invitations for events during the preview days • A number of Biennale full access cards to offer to employees

Depending on the level of involvement, an area on site is possible for companies to present their activities and products during the entire period of the biennale, including the exclusive preview days. This allows the company to also distribute informational material, organize consumer raffles, etc.

“No one here can remember ever entering the cisterns beneath the ruins of Koutoubia, the great 12th-century mosque. So unlocking them as part of the Marrakesh Biennale has created a buzz here, worthy, in the words of one visitor, of the opening of Ali Baba’s cave.

Built as rainwater reservoirs in the Middle Ages, then abandoned and sealed, the cellars have been transformed into an alluring exhibition space… The idea behind the cisterns, a curator explained, was that the subterranean spaces, as well as the art work here, served to transport people into another world.”

Marlise Simmons, International Herald Tribune March 8th, 2012

“For Moroccans Biennale Open Secret Spaces”

� � �

� �

Venues & Sites

The Marrakech Biennale showcases its five disciplines in a variety of locations, ranging from palaces to 800 year old plazas. In the previous edition we even restored cisterns that are located under the main mosque turning it into the most visited site.

The different events extends across the city starting from the old medina and leading into the newer more modern part, called Gueliz. We use existing sites and landmarks to exhibit work, host gatherings and present the city through a lens of contemporary art.

Jama’a el Fna & Banque el Maghreb ���

26  

Badia Palace & Dar Si Said ���

27  

Riad el Fenn !(House of Art)

28  

Gueliz: Theatre Royal, la Gare

& Cinema Colisee ���

29  

We would be delighted to discuss individual sponsorship possibilities matching your company's goals and requirements!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

For more information, visit our website at www.marrakechbiennale.com

� � �

Please contact: Alia Radman +212 603344182 alia.radman@marrakechbiennale.com