The eighth edition of the Artist’s Kasbah International Gathering returns in person to Alicante, inviting creativity to lead the way across five days in the city. About thirty professional and amateur artists will share experiences and collaborate, spanning from August 1 to August 6 as venues unfold through diverse neighborhoods and cultural hubs in the region.
The event marks a move from its online format over the previous two years due to the pandemic, with Nurdine Tabbaima leading the artist’s Kasbah Association in Morocco and Natalie Mills joining Alicante’s Third Intercultural Time. The gathering aims to foster cross-border artistic dialogue, turning art into a powerful vehicle for cultural exchange that connects people from varied backgrounds and regions, enhancing shared understanding through hands-on creation.
Participants from Morocco, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia will join local creators to co-create and present their work to the public, including Arab heritage artists living in France. Casa Mediterráneo opens its doors to participants on Monday afternoon, continuing through Tuesday and Wednesday. The Seneca Space hosts the collaborative process of building new tracks from scratch, including painting and some ceramics, with the public able to observe the development prior to the grand exhibition on Friday.
In addition, a program of literary presentations unfolds in the area on Wednesday, featuring Nadia al-Qassmi from Morocco, Medhi Ghaleb from Tunisia, Maxi Velloso and Mills from Alicante, and Nesrine Khoury from Syria, among others. A series of Moroccan film screenings takes place at MACA on Friday morning, complemented by a Red Pen session for attendees in the San Roque hostel. The schedule also includes guided tours of the old town organized by Aguas de Alicante and province-wide excursions.
This gathering traces its origins to the first edition, held at venues such as Freaks Art Bar and Pozos de Garrigós, with a formal exhibition space established at Séneca in recent years. Each edition expands the program, guided by the spirit of mutual understanding through art as a shared form of expression. Past participation from artists across Oman, Qatar, Iran, Egypt, and especially Morocco highlights Alicante’s role as a dynamic crossroads for cultural dialogue, a point emphasized by the organizers.
At its core, the event centers on seeing the other through artistic collaboration, building a bridge between cultures while celebrating creativity. The organizers note that the gathering remains a living, evolving project that invites local and international participants to exchange viewpoints, techniques, and stories in an atmosphere shaped by curiosity and mutual respect, a culture of openness that permeates every workshop, talk, and performance.
Attribution for the gathering comes from the Kasbah Association MoroccoY Natalie Mills, Alicante’s Third Intercultural Time, Casa Mediterráneo, and the participating arts communities. The initiative is supported by local cultural institutions and collaborative spaces that welcome visitors to experience the evolving roster of workshops, performances, and screenings realized throughout the five days. Attendees are encouraged to engage with the artists, observe the creative process, and celebrate the shared language of art, which binds people across borders and backgrounds.