Officer in charge of cultural activities
With Tanya, one can talk about international
museums, artistic currents, conservation of works, and enrichment of
collections. Being
totally moved by ethical values and being an activist, this is how we could
define Tania Chorfi who is currently in charge of exhibitions, educational lectures and workshops at the
"Villa des Arts" art center in Casablanca. Working for culture, safeguarding
the cultural and historical heritage, and supporting artists: these are the goals that
Tania sets for herself. A busy
professional life that did not prevent her from listening to her two daughters. Belonging to a
nationalist family of the Moroccan upper bourgeoisie, she discovered art alongside her father, a
music lover: "From
my father I inherited the taste for beauty and elegance; from my mother, the
pragmatic, valiant and positive side”, confides Tania Chorfi. Her parents transmitted
to their five children values that will be the foundation of their life:
authenticity, humility and
importance of knowledge. Being
curious about the world, Tania Chorfi chose to study sociology. After a Masters in
sociology of art
and works of culture, she got a post-graduate degree in organizational sociology,
at the university of Toulouse, then began a PhD at the Paris-Jussieu
university. In
1989, she worked for some time at the Institute of the Arab World where she
held a lecturer position. During
the summer holidays, she met her future husband. In 1990, having returned to Morocco, she joined the
ONA Foundation where, for twenty-six years, she assumed different
responsibilities. She is
also a member of the International Council of Museums, which she chaired for
six years. Two
events marked her career. In
2008, art sponsor Valérie Barkowski, seduced by the commitment of Tania Chorfi,
made a significant donation of works from all over the world to the foundation
for which she works. In
2009, particularly sensitive to the patrimonial dimension of cities, Tania
Chorfi initiated with the French Institute and the Casablanca Head Governor's
Office (the "Wilaya") the first edition of the Heritage Days which
allowed for the restoration of several monuments.