Casablanca theater professionals discuss "artistic unemployment"

Hespress highlights a critical issue facing Casablanca's vibrant arts scene: the pervasive problem of "artistic unemployment." The Casablanca Thespians' Coordination has taken a proactive stance, moving beyond mere discussion to direct engagement with political and elected bodies. This shift is a direct response to what they describe as a "closed doors policy," indicating a frustrating lack of responsiveness from authorities to their long-standing concerns.

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The coordination... decided to move from the logic of waiting to the logic of direct advocacy, in light of what it described as a “closed doors policy” that it receives.

The recent meeting with Marwan Rachdi, a key figure in the Casablanca City Council, represents a significant step in their advocacy. The discussions, described as "revealing," delved into the "systematic exclusion" of local theater groups, leading to a decline in their presence and a rise in unemployment among artists. The coordination pointed to several key obstacles: the absence of theater in the city's official agenda, technical and administrative deficiencies rendering performance venues unusable, and a critical lack of consistent public funding, which they argue is a "legitimate right" tied to the dignity of artists.

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The issue goes beyond the cultural dimension to include the social dimension related to hundreds of families who live off this sector.

From a Moroccan perspective, this struggle is emblematic of broader challenges faced by the cultural sector. The artists' demand for sustainable support and the revitalization of cultural spaces is not merely about artistic expression but also about social and economic well-being. Rachdi's positive reception and commitment to advocating for these issues within the city council offer a glimmer of hope. His acknowledgment that the issue transcends the cultural sphere, impacting hundreds of families, underscores the socio-economic dimension of the arts. The proposed partnership for an annual theater program and the emphasis on transforming theater into a driver of local development, rather than a marginalized sector, signal a potential turning point for Casablanca's stages.

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Revitalizing Casablanca theater requires moving from a state of anxiety to a space of creativity, by approving stable support and rehabilitating cultural infrastructure, making theater a lever for local development instead of remaining a marginalized sector.