Fondation Hiba

A national cultural foundation based in Rabat

Founded in 2006 at the initiative of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Fondation Hiba is a Moroccan non-profit organisation working to develop and promote the arts in their many forms. Its programmes address artists, cultural professionals, project leaders, associations and the wider public.

The foundation’s reference city is Rabat. Its official address, core team and main cultural hub are located at 266 Boulevard Mohammed V in the city centre. Fondation Hiba also operates an important facility in Casablanca through Studio Hiba, but that site should not be confused with the foundation’s headquarters.

Supporting creation and strengthening the cultural sector

Fondation Hiba works across several stages of the cultural value chain: identifying talent, training, networking, production, project development, public presentation and access to culture. It gives particular attention to contemporary creation and emerging practices while contributing to the professionalisation of Morocco’s cultural sector.

• support for artists and cultural initiatives;
• access to professional spaces and equipment;
• training and capacity building;
• production and dissemination of artistic projects;
• connections between artists, associations, institutions and partners;
• access to information and resources on arts and culture in Morocco.

This places Fondation Hiba among the organisations helping to structure Morocco’s cultural and creative industries, combining cultural action, creative entrepreneurship, professional development and public engagement.

The Renaissance cultural hub in central Rabat

In Rabat, the foundation’s ecosystem is centred on the Renaissance building. It includes Cinéma Renaissance, HIBA_Lab, the cultural café La Scène and Fen Korner.

Reopened to the public in 2013, Cinéma Renaissance presents regular film screenings alongside concerts, theatre performances, festivals and public events. Its main auditorium has 382 seats and digital projection equipment.

Located in the same building, HIBA_Lab is a multidisciplinary space for experimentation, rehearsal, training, residencies and exchange. Inaugurated in March 2015, it welcomes artists, associations, workshops, exhibitions and collaborative projects.

Together, these spaces allow the foundation to connect creation, learning, production and public presentation within a single cultural environment in central Rabat.

Studio Hiba: the foundation’s Casablanca facility

Fondation Hiba’s presence in Casablanca is primarily represented by Studio Hiba in the Bernoussi district. The official presentation describes a total area of 1,500 square metres, divided between a professional recording complex and an artists’ residence.

The studio is designed to record a wide range of musical styles and can host production, rehearsal and residency work. Programmes such as HIBA_Rec have given emerging artists access to recording, mixing and mastering, together with promotional and professional-development tools.

The most accurate description is therefore: Fondation Hiba is based in Rabat and operates a major professional facility in Casablanca.

Developing cultural and creative industries

Beyond its venues, Fondation Hiba develops programmes intended to strengthen Morocco’s cultural ecosystem. Kawaliss, implemented with the support of the European Union in Morocco, was designed as an incubation programme providing capacity building, mentoring and funding to project leaders and civil-society organisations working in the cultural and creative industries.

The foundation has also developed or supported initiatives related to music, cinema, comics, artistic mobility, reading, cultural information and the international circulation of Moroccan creation. Its resource centre provides documentation and sector information to artists, researchers, associations and cultural operators.

A form of long-term cultural infrastructure

Fondation Hiba’s contribution is not limited to event programming. Its work is built around durable cultural infrastructure: venues, a recording studio, working spaces, expertise, training, professional networks and support programmes.

This continuity helps artistic projects move from an initial idea to production and from production to an audience. It explains the foundation’s particular role in Morocco’s cultural development and in the gradual professionalisation of creative work.

Practical information and related places

The foundation’s headquarters and Renaissance hub are located at 266 Boulevard Mohammed V, Rabat, close to Rabat-Ville railway station and the Mohammed V National Theatre. Activities, opening times and access conditions vary by venue and programme, so consult the official website for current information.

Explore cultural places in Rabat, browse the Rabat cultural agenda, and visit the Culturama pages for HIBA_Lab and Cinéma Renaissance.