Spain: Moroccan Craftsmanship Awarded in Seville

Moroccan craftsmanship, through a work created by artisans from the city of Essaouira, was honored Thursday evening in Seville with the Demófilo Prize, awarded to outstanding artistic works that reflect creativity as well as the cultural and civilizational dimension of craftsmanship.

This prestigious international prize was presented to the Secretary of State in charge of Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, Lahcen Saadi, during a ceremony held at the Hassan II Pavilion of the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation, in the presence of the Foundation’s director, Mar Ahumada Sánchez; the Regional Minister for Culture and Sport of the Government of Andalusia, Patricia del Pozo Fernández; and the delegate of the Andalusian regional government in Seville, Ricardo Sánchez Antúnez.

Created according to the most authentic traditions of the art of wood carving for which the historic city of Essaouira is renowned, the award-winning work is a “Cross of Christ” carved from thuya wood. It illustrates the richness and diversity of Moroccan craftsmanship while reflecting the level of excellence, creativity, and precision that characterize Moroccan artisans. It has been installed inside the cathedral of the Giralda in Seville, thereby conveying a humanist message founded on the values of dialogue, coexistence, and tolerance among cultures and religions.

The awarding of the Demófilo Prize to this work, sculpted in the purest tradition of the great Essaouira school of marquetry, constitutes recognition of the value as well as the remarkable uniqueness and creativity of Moroccan artisans, stated to the press, on the sidelines of the ceremony, the Advisor to His Majesty the King and co‑president of the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation, André Azoulay.

This cross, more than two meters high, has been installed under the porch of the Bronze Gate that provides access to the cathedral of the Giralda, a site visited every day by tens of thousands of people. “Through this work, Moroccan craftsmanship is put on display. Visitors will discover this Morocco which, in the times we are going through, remains a compass reminding us of what our civilizations have handed down to us in order to live together. This cross is both a moving and authentic testimony to that,” he emphasized.

“When one observes the work of today’s Andalusian artisans, we Moroccans recognize ourselves in it. And when they look at us, they also recognize themselves in us. Craftsmanship is this encounter of one within the other, this closeness with the person facing you,” he added.

Morocco is thus recognized, he continued, “for the continuity of its creativity, its know‑how, and its talent, but also for its capacity to serve as a genuine bridge between civilizations.” “Our artisans sometimes express better than words or writings what we are, because craftsmanship embodies life,” he noted.

For Mr. Azoulay, this work also carries a dimension of transmission. “Craftsmanship is a talent that cannot be measured in days or seasons: it is read and appreciated on the scale of centuries, sometimes even millennia,” he concluded.

For his part, Mr. Saadi emphasized on this occasion that this prize constitutes a sincere recognition of the particularity of Morocco’s authentic heritage, deeply rooted in history, which has significantly contributed to enriching the diverse cultural heritage of both shores of the Mediterranean.

This distinction also represents international recognition of the value of Moroccan craftsmanship and the excellence of the know‑how of the Kingdom’s artisans, the fruit of the high solicitude with which His Majesty King Mohammed VI surrounds the handicrafts sector.

The city of Essaouira, with the richness of its civilization and culture, symbolizes a unique model of openness and coexistence. It has always carried the values of diversity, tolerance, and dialogue between cultures and religions. The craft activity that thrives there, particularly the art of carving thuya wood, constitutes a clear expression of this cultural identity nourished by various civilizational influences and strengthened through the transmission of know‑how and skills from generation to generation, observed the Secretary of State in charge of Handicrafts.

This distinction also contributes to strengthening the ties of cooperation between Morocco and Spain, two age‑old kingdoms. Indeed, the signing in Essaouira of a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Handicrafts and the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation will certainly help develop joint projects in the field of handicrafts, he noted.

This tribute celebrates, in its essence, the very spirit of Essaouira, a city that has always known how to make diversity a source of richness and dialogue between cultures a driver of creativity and peace, he said, adding that this initiative confirms the role of craftsmanship in spreading the values of tolerance and coexistence among cultures and spiritual traditions.

For his part, the president of the Machado Foundation, Antonio Zoido, indicated that this prize dedicated to craftsmanship aims to promote artisanal trades in a world where it sometimes seems that only algorithms or large‑scale industrial production matter.

In this field, he noted, Morocco possesses an exceptional heritage, and Andalusia also retains an important legacy, he concluded.

The Demófilo Prizes, organized by the Machado Foundation, are among the most recognized cultural distinctions in Andalusia for promoting and valuing popular traditions and intangible heritage. Created to reward initiatives and artistic creations that contribute to preserving and spreading cultural expressions linked in particular to traditional festivities, this distinction also aims to promote the richness of cultural heritage and the commitment of those who work to safeguard and promote it.