Villa des Arts de Casablanca

The Villa des Arts de Casablanca is an art gallery and cultural centre at 30 Boulevard Brahim Roudani, in the Maârif and Gauthier area of Casablanca, Morocco. It occupies an Art Deco villa dating from the 1930s, a period when Casablanca built many of its modernist buildings, and it was restored to host exhibitions of contemporary Moroccan and international art. Visitors walk through a series of rooms on two levels, with temporary exhibitions of painting, photography, sculpture, installation and design, plus a small garden and occasional talks and events. The programme changes several times a year, so the content depends on the schedule. The building is intimate rather than monumental, and a visit generally takes about an hour. The villa itself is part of the attraction: its curved lines, wrought-iron details and period staircases reflect the Art Deco character that defines much of the city's architecture, and the garden gives a quiet pause from the traffic outside. Photography conditions vary by exhibition, so visitors should ask staff before taking pictures. Admission is free, though visitors should check the current exhibition schedule and opening days, as the venue generally closes on Mondays. Weekday afternoons are the quietest, while openings and weekend visits draw more local art audiences. It combines naturally with a walk around Maârif, a lunch at one of the nearby cafes, and a visit to Casablanca's other Art Deco buildings downtown. A petit taxi from downtown costs about MAD 15-20.