The President of France praises the artist Mehdi Qutbi

The Moroccan artist and head of the National Foundation of Museums in Morocco, Mehdi Qutbi, was promoted by French President Emmanuel Macron to the rank of senior officer of the national order of merit, one of the highest honors granted by the French Republic, during a ceremony held Thursday evening at the Elysee Palace.

In a speech in which he addressed the recipient of this award, the French President affirmed that Mehdi Qutbi is an “exceptional artist” and “a builder of bridges between countries and people.”

The French President added that “Qotbi is one of the purveyors of arts and talents,” and he said, addressing Qotbi: “You never stop creating, displaying, teaching plastic arts, and meeting personalities who inspire you and those who inspire them.”

Macron, who described the artist as “one of the links between France and Morocco,” explained that Ghotbi is “one of those who work daily to revive this unique and solid fraternal bond that brings together our two countries.”

Qutbi said in a press statement: “This award honors me, given that it goes beyond my personal honor to honor the wonderful collective work accomplished by the National Foundation of Museums, which, behind the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and thanks to the great support and attention that His Majesty the King gives to culture and the arts, was able to accomplish “Unprecedented major national and international exhibitions, in addition to their contribution to preserving our rich multicultural heritage and making it known throughout the world.”

After being nominated with the Order of the Legion of Honor, with the rank of Knight, by former French President Jacques Chirac, in 2000, and then with the Order of the Legion of Honor, with the rank of Officer, by his successor, Nicolas Sarkozy, the Moroccan artist was promoted to the Order of the Legion of Honor, with the rank of Commander, in 2016 by President François Hollande.

These ceremonies were distinguished by the presence of the French Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Stephane Sigourney, and the President of the Arab World Institute, Jack Lang, in addition to a number of figures from the worlds of diplomacy, culture and the arts.