Diary
The Marrakech Biennale and upcoming events in Morocco
[ MOROCCO ]
Arty party
29 FEB-4 MAR
MARRAKECH BIENNALE
Where there’s money, there’s art. Once Marrakech’s Medina (Old City) became a regular weekend hang-out for the wealthy bohos of Notting Hill and Paris’s 10th arrondissement, it was somehow inevitable that an international arts event would follow. Sure enough, November 2005 saw the inaugural Arts in Marrakech (AiM) Festival, set up by Vanessa Branson, sister of Richard. It focused on cutting-edge contemporary visual art, literature and film, and Ms Branson rifled her contacts book to pull in a bunch of prestigious participants and guests, including authors Hanif Kureishi and Esther Freud, and singer Annie Lennox.
Since then, there have been two more stagings of the festival. The Moroccan component has increased, so it’s now less of a Soho House outing and more a celebration of local talent – although the celeb quotient remains significant, with Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall in attendance last time around. Visit the festival website to see what’s going on in this year’s 4th biennale – and, of course, who’s showing up. www.marrakechbiennale.org
UPCOMING EVENTS IN MOROCCO…
[ 17-24 MAR ]
Maroc Classic
A round-Morocco rally in which vintage vehicles built between 1930 and 1983 race over seven days and 2,330 km from Rabat via Fez, Ouarzazate and Agadir to the finish line in Marrakech. The organisers sell it as ‘action by day, luxury by night’. www.rallye-maroc-classic.com
[ 6-16 APR ]
Marathon des Sables
The toughest of foot races, this six-day, 251 km event is the equivalent of six regular marathons – and it is run in the Sahara Desert with competitors carrying their own food in their backpacks (see below). The start and finish point is Ouarzazate, south of the Atlas Mountains. www.darbaroud.com
[ 21-26 APR ]
Jazzablanca
The country’s leading jazz festival is held annually in Casablanca. There’s no information yet on 2012′s line-up, but in 2011 the definition of jazz was elastic enough to encompass James Blunt and the Buena Vista Social Club, as well as Chick Corea. www.jazzablanca.com
[ 8-16 JUN ]
Fez Sacred Music Festival
For sacred read soulful. The festival gathers performers from around the globe to perform devotional music, ranging from local Sufichants to Andalusian gypsy troupes and from Ben Harper to Youssou N’Dour. www.fesfestival.com
[ 21-24 JUN ]
Gnaoua Festival
This world music festival is held in the impossibly picturesque Atlantic port city of Essaouira. Thousands of midsummer revellers attend for a beguiling mix of rock, reggae, African, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and hip-hop acts, who jam with local semi-mystical Gnaoua musicians. Glastonbury is drab by comparison. www.festival-gnaoua.net
