The Moroccan Ministry of Culture has launched a comprehensive program to support traditional performing arts, funding training centers for traditional music, storytelling, and folk dance.

The Ministry of Culture of Morocco has officially unveiled 'Heritage in Motion,' a comprehensive national support program designed to preserve, celebrate, and revitalize the country's rich traditional performing arts, including indigenous Berber music, Andalusian classical traditions, storytelling, and folk dance. The multi-year initiative aims to protect endangered artistic traditions, support aging master performers, and introduce the beauty of Morocco's performing arts heritage to younger generations and international audiences.

At the heart of the 'Heritage in Motion' program is the establishment of ten specialized training centers in historic cities such as Rabat, Marrakech, Fes, and Ouarzazate. These centers will offer free, structured classes in traditional musical instruments, such as the oud, gimbri, and qanun, as well as traditional singing and dance forms. Aging master performers will be hired as permanent faculty members, providing them with stable incomes and a dignified platform to pass down their unique, oral-based musical knowledge and artistic techniques to young apprentices.

A key focus of the program is the revitalization of the ancient art of oral storytelling (halqa), which has historically been a vibrant centerpiece of Moroccan public squares, notably Marrakech's Jemaa el-Fnaa. The Ministry will establish dedicated 'Storytelling Pavilions' in public parks and cultural centers, hosting regular performances by traditional storytellers and sponsoring national storytelling festivals. These public events aim to restore the social significance of oral narrative and engage digital-native youth with the historical wisdom, folklore, and linguistic heritage of their ancestors.

The initiative has been warmly welcomed by Moroccan artists, musicians, and cultural advocates, who emphasize that performing arts are vital expressions of national identity and cultural heritage. Funding for the program is secured through national heritage appropriations and partnerships with regional tourism boards, who recognize that authentic cultural performances are powerful drivers of cultural tourism and local economic development. The Ministry plans to launch an international performing arts festival next year, showcasing the talent of Morocco's traditional and contemporary performers.