Morocco’s Best Kept Artistic Secret boasts several fantastic residencies that welcome artists in search of creative spaces where they can be inspired and supported. tigMAÏA is fresh on the scene, established in 2023 as the first year-round artist residency in Morocco’s Souss-Massa region.
tigMAÏA is a portmanteau : coming from tigmi – home in Amazigh (Berber) language – and maia from “maieutic” : Socrates’ method of bringing forth new ideas.
International artists seek out tigMAÏA to focus on their craft, free from distractions and mundane pressures. But tigMAÏA’s gorgeous setting is not just a respite from the busyness of day-to-day life. It’s a place to engage with others. Particularly young locals.
Why choose tigMAÏA ?
tigMAÏA is a one-of-a-kind artist retreat offering an authentic Moroccan experience. Located in the sunny coastal city of Agadir, tigMAÏA offers a peaceful and inspiring environment. This haven is the perfect sanctuary for creative minds longing to escape the monotony of their daily existence.
tigMAÏA offers accommodation in private rooms with balconies, a common area with panoramic views, a library, gallery, and multipurpose space. tigMAÏA’s outdoor green space includes an Andalusian-style garden and a swimming pool.
Immersion in Morocco’s Best Kept Artistic Secret
tigMAÏA offers a tranquil yet stimulating creative environment, attracting artists from all over the world.
From its calm, residential neighborhood nestled in the hills of Agadir, tigMAÏA overlooks the city and its surroundings’ stunning natural scenery. The retreat’s architecture and design, with their simple elegance, draw on various styles, including bedrooms, an Andalusian garden, and an authentic hammam.
With its location in the capital of the Souss Massa region, tigMAÏA is an ideal home base for cultural and natural excursions – the region features a wealth of landscapes, beaches, and historical sites. tigmaïa staff can help to arrange outings in the city and beyond.
Dancers, sculptors, writers, potters… All have a home at tigMAÏA
tigMAÏA welcomes artists from a wide range of creative disciplines, including choreographers, writers, graphic designers, jewelers, potters, fiber artists, musicians, painters, and more.
Also serves as a cultural crossroads, where film screenings, exhibitions, and concerts are held, and where workshops and classes are offered to community members.
tigMAÏA offers opportunities for artists to showcase their work, including open studios, readings, and performances. These events allow artists to share their work and receive feedback and support.
tigMAÏA engages local youth, thanks to partnership with Connect Institute
tigMAÏA gives back to the local community through its partnership with the nearby Connect Institute. This pioneering non-profit initiative is dedicated to alternative education for Moroccan youth through culture, critical thinking, and innovation. Through this partnership, tigMAÏA engages with local youth, introducing them to various creative disciplines.
As such, while tigMAÏA provides an idyllic space for artists to hone their creative projects – allowing them to fully immerse themselves in their work – many visiting artists choose to share their expertise with youth from the Connect Institute.
Many of these bright, curious 20-somethings, selected to participate in the Institute’s innovative programs, are artists themselves. Some tigMAÏA residents have held workshops, readings, discussions, and film screenings with these youth, expanding their worldviews. These young people cherish the chance to learn from and interact with international dancers, writers, musicians, visual artists, and other artists who broaden their horizons.
A stay at tigMAÏA – whether for one week or several months – can be transformative, deeply nourishing artists’ work and personal growth. tigMAÏA strives to provide the support and encouragement artists need to pursue their craft. Unleashed and uninhibited. Click here to see what artists staying at tigMAÏA have to say about their experiences.
Don’t pass up the opportunity to experience the Moroccan art world’s best kept secret.
For more information about tigMAÏA, please contact +212 693 75 44 78. It is free to apply and applications are accepted on a rolling basis – visit this page for more information.