Casablanca, Morocco

Why choose Casablanca for a residency

Casablanca is Morocco’s biggest city and its commercial engine, and that shapes the kind of work you end up making here. The city pushes you toward contemporary questions: urban growth, migration, architecture, labor, advertising, social change, and how all of that hits daily life.

If you want medina nostalgia, Fez or Marrakech might suit you better. Casablanca is for when you’re interested in what’s happening right now: glass towers beside art deco facades, port traffic, billboards, construction sites, cafés full of young people glued to their phones, and a gallery scene that sits close to the market.

Artists usually pick Casablanca for:

• Contemporary galleries and curators you can actually meet in person
• Research-based projects around city space, identity, capitalism, and modernity
• Cross-cultural exchange with Moroccan and international artists already working in urban contexts
• Production-oriented residencies that lead to presentations, rather than a quiet retreat

Because many institutions, collectors, and cultural workers pass through Casablanca regularly, it can be one of the best Moroccan bases for studio visits, exhibition opportunities, and professional connections.

Key residency options in Casablanca

Casablanca doesn’t have a huge number of residencies, but the options that exist tend to be quite focused. The three most visible are African Arty’s A/A Residency, Yasmine Laraqui Studio, and Ultra Laboratory.

African Arty – A/A Residency

Type: Local and international residency inside a gallery structure
Website: African Arty – A/A Residency

African Arty runs the A/A Residency inside its gallery premises in Casablanca. It’s artist-focused and explicitly communal: you work alongside other residents, meet local artists, and end with a solo or group exhibition in the gallery.

What it offers

• Studio space within the gallery building
• Support from the gallery team on marketing, communications, and digital promotion
• Networking help with curators, artists, and local cultural workers
• A final solo or group show presenting work made during the residency

The residency is framed around a communal spirit and exchange. You’re encouraged to share skills, talk about your process, and collaborate with other residents or local artists when it makes sense.

Who this fits

• Artists who want to be embedded in a gallery context, not an isolated studio
• Emerging and mid-career artists looking for visibility and a concrete exhibition
• Practices that benefit from conversation and feedback: photography, painting, installation, socially engaged projects, and more

Application basics

To express interest, you send an email to the residency contact with:

• Portfolio and CV
• Recent work examples
• Preferred dates

The gallery’s site lists the address jagannat@africarty.com as the contact for residency applications. Keep your email concise and project-focused: why Casablanca, what you plan to make, and how you imagine using the exhibition opportunity.

Tips for making it work

• Arrive with a project outline but leave room to respond to the city and conversations in the gallery.
• Ask early about documentation of the final show (photos, video, press text) so you can use it after the residency.
• Use the gallery structure to set up studio visits with local curators, not just the final exhibition.

Yasmine Laraqui Studio Residency

Type: Research and production residency, self-funded
Location: Studio in Casablanca, often cited around Rue Al Araar
Disciplines: Film, photography, research, writing, video, digital practices, curation, architecture, social practice, interdisciplinary work

This residency is geared toward artists and researchers who want to develop a specific project in a structured environment. It’s more like a studio-based think-and-make period with curatorial support than a big institutional program.

What it offers

• Accommodation in Casablanca
• Working space in the studio
• Curatorial and conceptual support
• A final exhibition or public presentation of the project
• A framework that encourages research, writing, and experimentation alongside production

Funding and costs

Artists pay a participation fee, often described as around 1000 € per month. That typically includes housing, studio access, curatorial accompaniment, and the final presentation. Travel, materials, and daily living beyond housing are on you.

Who this fits

• Artists with a clear, written project proposal who want guidance and dialogue
• Researchers, writers, and interdisciplinary artists needing time in a city but also structured feedback
• Artists who have funding from grants, institutions, or personal resources to cover fees

How to approach an application

• Lead with your project and methodology. What are you researching or producing, and why does it need Casablanca?
• Specify your expected outputs: film sketch, photo series, text, installation, public conversation, etc.
• Be honest about your needs: do you require quiet studio time, rooftop access for filming, introductions to local contacts, or help with research sources?

Ultra Laboratory

Type: Small-scale live/work residency for artists and curators
Location: Top floor of an apartment building in central Casablanca
Scale: Typically hosts only a handful of artists per year

Ultra Laboratory runs as an intimate residency space combining living quarters, workspace, and a strong curatorial direction. It’s built around specific projects, often ones that engage directly with Casablanca as subject or context.

What it offers

• A live/work setting where you both stay and produce work
• Curatorial dialogue with the organizers, often quite close and critical
• Immersion in the immediate urban surroundings: rooftops, streets, neighbors, city soundscape
• An end-of-residency presentation in a public or partner space

Who this fits

• Artists and curators comfortable in a small, selective environment
• Practices built around context: site-specific installation, social practice, writing, sound, or conceptual work tied to urban life
• People who want fewer social distractions and more intense, focused feedback

How to frame your proposal

• Show how your project responds to the city (space, sound, social structures, architecture).
• Clarify what kind of public moment you imagine for the end: talk, walk, installation, screening, intervention.
• Be concise. With small programs, the organizers usually read closely but also value clarity and intent.

Choosing the right neighborhood and daily setup

Casablanca is big, traffic-heavy, and spread out. The neighborhood you stay in shapes your experience as much as the residency itself. Some residencies handle housing for you; others expect you to find your own place. Even if housing is included, it helps to understand what you’re stepping into.

Common neighborhoods artists target

• Maarif – Central, commercial, and full of cafés, shops, and daily activity. Good for quick access to galleries and meetings, but can be noisy.
• Gauthier – Popular with creatives, young professionals, and expats. Lots of restaurants and a social scene; useful if you like working in cafés and meeting people informally.
• Sidi Belyout / central areas – Closer to downtown, markets, and transit. Practical if you want walkability and easy access to the tram and taxis.
• Anfa / Maarif Extension – More residential, usually quieter and often pricier. Comfortable for longer stays if your budget allows it.
• Mers Sultan – A more mixed, local neighborhood. Less polished but strong everyday life; useful if your work revolves around street culture and local rhythms.

If a residency includes housing, ask them exactly where it is and how long it takes to get to your studio or exhibition space. Travel time affects how much energy you have left for work.

Daily costs and budgeting

Casablanca is among Morocco’s more expensive cities, especially for short-term stays, but you can still keep a modest budget if you plan carefully.

• Housing: If the residency covers it, that’s a major help. If not, short-term apartments in central areas add up quickly, especially in Gauthier and Anfa.
• Food: Local cafés and street food are affordable; sit-down restaurants and “trendy” spots are closer to European prices.
• Transport: Taxis and tram rides are moderate individually, but daily use adds up. Living near your studio cuts both costs and stress.
• Materials and fabrication: Costs depend heavily on your medium. Large-format printing, metal work, or special equipment can be more expensive or harder to source than basic drawing and photography supplies.

For self-funded residencies or stays, combining a residency fee with a grant from your country, an institution, or a small crowdfunding campaign often makes the numbers more manageable.

Getting around, visas, and on-the-ground logistics

Once you’re in Casablanca, a lot of your energy goes to very practical things: moving around a large city, staying within visa limits, getting materials, and keeping focus.

Transport inside Casablanca

• Petit taxis: The easiest way to move between neighborhoods for short trips. Try to use the meter; if not, agree on a fare before getting in.
• Ride-hailing apps: Available and often more predictable on pricing. Helpful for trips with equipment or late-night returns from openings.
• Tramway: Clean and reliable along its lines; great if you live and work near a tram stop.
• Trains: Useful for reaching Rabat, Marrakech, and other cities, as well as some connections within Casablanca.
• Walking: Works inside specific districts, less so across the whole city; distances between neighborhoods can be bigger than they seem on a map.

If your practice involves large-scale work or heavy equipment, ask your residency about:

• Storage options
• Access for delivery vehicles
• Recommended printers, framers, or fabrication workshops nearby

Visa basics for residencies in Casablanca

Visa rules depend on your passport, and these rules can change. Many artists can enter Morocco on a visa-free short stay, but not everyone.

Before you commit to dates, check:

• Whether your nationality needs a visa to enter Morocco
• The maximum length of stay allowed on your passport
• Whether you’re allowed to remain long enough for the residency period plus a buffer week
• If a formal invitation letter or residency agreement is useful for immigration or your funding body

When you’re accepted, ask your host for:

• An invitation letter stating your name, dates, and the residency address
• A contact person and phone number
• A short description of the residency you can show if asked at the border

Programs in Morocco sometimes have to adapt their eligibility rules based on experience with visas and overstays. Always double-check your status against official government sources and the residency’s latest guidance.

Plugging into the art scene

Residencies give you a base, but the value often comes from how you move through the city and who you meet.

• Galleries and spaces: African Arty, independent studios, and project spaces organize openings, talks, and screenings. Keep an eye on their social media or mailing lists.
• Events and workshops: Some galleries and cultural centers host workshops, roundtables, and guided tours. These are ideal places to meet young artists and students.
• Studio visits: Use your residency as a reason to invite curators, writers, and other artists to see your work in progress.
• Cross-city trips: Day or weekend trips to Rabat or Marrakech are easy and can expand your network beyond Casablanca.

Have a short, clear way to talk about your project, both in French or English if you can, and keep a digital portfolio ready to share on your phone or tablet.

How to position your work for a Casablanca residency

Residencies are not only picking strong work; they’re picking projects that make sense in this city. You can increase your chances by framing your practice in relation to Casablanca’s specific context.

Questions to answer in your proposal

• What questions or themes are you working with that Casablanca can sharpen (urbanism, labor, mobility, coastal cities, architecture, advertising, diasporas)?
• How does your method—photography, installation, performance, sound, writing—interact with the city rather than just using it as a backdrop?
• What do you want to share back with the local community: exhibition, talk, workshop, walk, publication, or screening?
• What kind of support do you actually need from the residency: introductions, technical help, translation, curatorial feedback, or simply space and time?

Being explicit about these points helps residency coordinators see how your presence will fit with their mission and their local networks.

Basic application toolkit

• Portfolio: A clean PDF or site showing recent work, ideally projects that connect to what you want to do in Casablanca.
• CV: Keep it simple and focused on exhibitions, residencies, and publications relevant to your current practice.
• Project description: One to two pages explaining the concept, methods, desired outcomes, and why Casablanca is the right place.
• Timeline: How you imagine using the residency period: research, production, editing, installation.
• Technical needs: Any special equipment, space, or access you require.

Is Casablanca the right fit for you?

Casablanca suits artists who want to work inside a living, shifting city and benefit from direct contact with galleries, curators, and other practitioners. It’s a good choice if you like production, conversation, and public outcomes.

It might be less ideal if you are seeking a quiet rural retreat, very low living costs, or full isolation. In that case, looking at residencies in smaller towns or more nature-focused contexts in Morocco could work better.

If your current project is asking questions about contemporary life, urban space, or how people move and work in large cities, a residency in Casablanca can give you both the material and the audience to push that work forward.