Peace
Democracy
Creative cooperation
Education
Inspiration

Academia Arabesca is a non-profit association based in Stockholm and Marrakech.

The activities are based on a creative and open cooperation with other cultural associations, among the public, in the educational system and in various media to spread a deeper and broader knowledge about – and increased understanding of – different cultural expressions in the MENA countries (Middle East and North Africa) in order to work for peace, democracy and multicultural cooperation.

  • To provide opportunities for individual researchers and research groups, students, writers, artists, performers – preferably from the Nordic countries – to engage in research, studies, project work and stimulate cultural exchanges with the MENA countries, but especially between Morocco and Sweden.
  • To stimulate and, as far as possible, contribute to the organisation of courses and lectures on Moroccan culture in Morocco and in Sweden and the production of documentary films and books on Moroccan and other MENA countries’ culture.

 

HOSTING VISITORS FROM A MULTITUDE OF COUNTRIES

Since the beginning of our intercultural activities in 1989, we have had the pleasure of collaborating and receiving thousands of member guests, both individuals and participants in group events from all over the world,  the majority of them originating from the Nordic countries:

Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Icelan and also numerous members from UK, USA, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and Morocco. 

But member guests and visitors have also  come from Greece Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Serbia, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauretania, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Haiti, Argentine, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.   

 

COLLABORATING WITH INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 

Our institutes in Marrakech and Stockholm have archives with documents and photos of our collaborations since more than 30 years with representatives of the following universities, colleges, cultural institutions, museums, civil society associations, international NGOs etc.

International: NSMS Nordic society for Middle Eastern Studies, ICTM, (International Council for Traditional Music), CID (International Dance Council), ICH (Intangible Cultural Heritage) at UNESCO.

Sweden: Utbildningsradion (UR), Migrationsverket, Kriscentrum för Kvinnor, Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the Universities in Lund, Stockholm and Umeå, Textilhögskolan Borås. Capellagårdens textilutbildning, Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH), Kungliga Konsthögskolan, Kulturverkstan Göteborg, (YH-utbildning till internationella kulturprojektledare), Stockholms Stadsteater, Dansgruppen Akitos, Gångsätra gymnasium, Dansmuseet Rolf de Maré, Musikmuséet, Carina Ari foundation, Associations of Rosendal, Re-Orient, Lundensia etc.

Finland: Åbo (Turku) Akademi, Kuopio Festivals and exhibtions.

Denmark: Kunstakademiets Arkitektskole, Copenhagen.

Iceland: University of Iceland. Austria Schools of Oriental Dance.

France: IMA (Institut du Monde Arabe), UNESCO in Paris.

Germany: Several Universities, Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen.

Berlin: Schools of Oriental Dance, Art therapy groups.

Italy: Association SHARE, Rome.

Spain: La Fundación Tres Culturas, Sevilla, La Fundacion El Legado Andalusia Granada.

UK: Aga Khan International University London, Colleges, Schools of Oriental dance.

USA: University of California, Berkeley, Georgetown University,GLB, (Global learning across Borders), Dance company Anar Dana, Seattle 

Morocco: Marrakech L’Association Al-Muniya Cadi Ayyad University, La Maison de culture, Musée de la Musique, Musée de l ́Eau, Musée de l ́Art Culinaire, Musée de la Femme, Musée de la Photographie, Les amis du Jardin Majorelle, Musée Yves Saint Laurent, Musée des Confluences, the Association of Culture, Biennale of Contemporary Arts in Africa and MiddleEast, Instituto Cervantes, Lessane Arabi Center, Arts Academy, Fédération marocaine des troupes du théâtre professionnel, several boarding and secondary schools. Essaouira Cultural House Dar Souiri, Conservatoire de la Musique, Berberlands-Ecoturism. Tanger Arabic Language Immersion School. Rabat. BNRM (Bibliothèque Nationale du Royaume du Maroc), IRCAM (Institut Royal de la Culture Amazighe), CCCL (Center for Cross Cultural Learning), Instance équité et réconciliation. Agadir Ibn Zohr University. Meknes University Moulay Ismail. Tetouan L´école supérieure des Arts e Mètiers Ouarzazate Atlas studios, Film Museum, Regional Ministry of Culture. Errachidia-Tinejdad Centre Tarik Ibn Zyad, Musée Ethnographique Lalla Mimouna. Province Zagora Café Littéraire, Association Phoenix, Atelier Bannour, Joudour Sahara,Musée d´Oulad Driss Collaborations with Festivals Maroc: in Marrakech (FNAP), Festival de l’art du
jardin, Festival des rencontres et des musiques soufies, Festival Awal’n Art, On marche, in Agadir (Timitar) , Layoune (Rawafid Azawane), Tarfaya (Petit Prince), Merzouga, in M´hamid el Guizlane (Festivals des Nomades, Taragalte, Zamane), Festival des Gnaouas, Des Andalousies Atlantiques, Festivals in Beni-Mellal, Zagora,(Films transhariens, Ecotourism, Traditional Dances) in Tadla, El Ksiba, Keelaat M´gouna, Moussems de Tantan, d´Imilchil, Algeria Pan-African Festival. Tunisia Festival Carthage, National Conservatory of Music.

MEMBERSHIP AND ACTIVITIES BY MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS

As a member of Academia Arabesca, you can stay in our cultural spaces and use our facilities. The maintenance of our buildings and organization of our activities are run on a non-profit basis by the board members and volunteers of the Academia Arabesca Friendship Association. 

We would be grateful if you would support us with membership, donations or volunteer work even if you do not intend or have the opportunity to visit the Institute in Marrakech during the current year.

Academia Arabesca looks to the future with great confidence and believes in education and artistic activities for long-term sustainability and increased understanding and respect for people and nature.

membership

Staff & Board

– Year 2024 –

Gita Sellman

Founder, donor and curator. Board member

 



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Josefine Chiacchiero

Choreographer, Artist, Teacher & Journalist

President

Britt Björkman

Mechanical engineer, Project leader

Secretary

Hicham Haddadi

Assistant Director

 



Marianne Laanatza

Researcher & Middle East expert

Board member



Sofia Häggman

Egyptologist, author, curator at the Mediterranean Museum.

Board member



Susanne Olsson

Professor of Religious Studies, Stockholm University

Board member



Gertrud Olsson 

Architect, university lecturer, researcher.

Board member



Kristina Josephson-Hesse

Researcher, project manager

Board member

Marina Davidsson

Auditor