The Salam cinema in Agadir is legendary. Built in 1946, it survived the 1960 earthquake (our photo). Its architectural configuration in the shape of a horse saddle proved to be devilishly earthquake-proof! On May 28, 2022, the city's mayor Aziz Akhannouch, also head of the Moroccan government, announced that this cinema, which has left its mark on several generations of Gadiris, was going to be rehabilitated, following the donation of the building to the City by its owner, businessman Aziz Aboulmajd. A little over two years later, the Municipality is showing that it has a plan: it is launching a citizen consultation to determine the future function of the building.
In a gesture to the credit of the City, a consultative platform (our photo) has been created for this purpose on its website. The inhabitants of Agadir have the possibility to submit their suggestions, anonymously or not, not only in Arabic and Tamazight, but also in French. An attention that will be appreciated by French speakers.
Several uses are proposed: multifunctional cultural center, art house cinema, co-working and innovation space, theater and performances, education and training center, art gallery and museum or even digital center.
The deadline for submitting online responses is November 30. "Your participation is essential to making this project a success," the City emphasizes. The latter adds that it will distribute the responses, while reserving the right to filter them and "not publish proposals deemed inappropriate or offensive."
This consultative platform also allows for decisions to be taken on the names of three indoor swimming pools that will soon be open to the public, in the Al Houda (our photo), Aghroud (Bensergao) and Hay Mohammadi districts, in addition to the Olympic swimming pool planned near the Grand Stade Adrar.
Citizen consultation is very trendy. It generates democratic emulation, but can also be disappointing in the eyes of some. The precaution taken to suggest specific allocations for the Salam cinema is however likely to avoid this drawback.
The work of architect Georges Appéré (our photo) will have a new cultural life, even though it seemed for a time that it would fall prey to real estate appetites !
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