Cultural institution — Oujda, since 2016
Thanoon Centre for the Art of Arabic Calligraphy and Ornamentation
- مركز ذنون لفن الخط العربي والزخرفة
- Centre Thanoon pour l’art de la calligraphie arabe et de l’ornementation
The Thanoon Centre for the Art of Arabic Calligraphy and Ornamentation is a non-profit Moroccan cultural association founded in Oujda in 2016 by calligrapher Mohammed Amine Bouhid, with the blessing of his master Belaid Hamidi. It is named in honour of the Iraqi calligrapher Yousif Thanoon (1932–2020), known as “the jurist of Arabic calligraphy”.
Founding president: calligrapher Mohammed Amine Bouhid
About the Centre
It is the first Moroccan centre specialised in teaching Arabic calligraphy through the traditional ijaza system: gradual progress, individual correction and a final piece, on a path that ends with the ijaza once the student reaches the required level. It welcomes children, young people and adults, in person and online, with a focus on Maghrebi and Eastern scripts and Moroccan ornamentation. Its method draws on the teaching approach devised by Yousif Thanoon and developed and spread by Belaid Hamidi; its students have come from Oujda and other Moroccan cities, and from Iraq, Algeria, London and Bangladesh.
Its work reaches well beyond the classroom, into workshops, lectures, exhibitions and national and international gatherings. The Mohammed Amine Bouhid Gallery later came to preserve part of this experience and present it to visitors and researchers.
Mission and goals
The Centre sees Arabic calligraphy as a field for learning and creativity, for safeguarding heritage and producing knowledge, and for building cultural bridges — through paths that combine training, practice, research and cultural work.
01
Teaching and skills
Teaching the foundations of Arabic calligraphy and its historic schools, developing skills and encouraging innovation, balancing authenticity and renewal.
02
Safeguarding heritage
Helping safeguard Morocco’s and Islam’s heritage of calligraphy and ornament, and passing it on to new generations as part of cultural identity.
03
Culture and the arts
Organising exhibitions, symposia, workshops and gatherings, creating spaces where calligraphers, artists, researchers and the public meet.
04
Research and documentation
Encouraging academic research into the history of calligraphy and ornament, and documenting, writing and publishing.
05
Partnerships
Building partnerships with cultural, educational and artistic institutions, nationally and internationally.
06
Empowering generations
Opening training and practice to young people, women and children, and discovering and supporting talent so the art endures.
Educational programmes
Traditional ijaza programme (Hamidi method)
Learning to write and draw the Maghrebi script by its rules, within the ijaza tradition that keeps the chain of calligraphers unbroken.
Moroccan ornament programme
Moroccan ornament by its principles and rules, from the single motif to a complete piece.
Handwriting improvement programme
Helping children and teenagers improve their handwriting through intensive sessions and practical exercises.
Practical workshops and related crafts
Making tools and ink, preparing paper and composing a panel — reconnecting calligraphy with its crafts.
“Thanouniyat” and “Ambassadors of Calligraphy”
Regular sessions presenting calligraphers’ work, and guest artists from Morocco and abroad leading classes, workshops and open meetings.
Writing the Qur’an and reviving manuscripts
Placing the writing of the Qur’anic text at the heart of training, and copying Maghrebi and Andalusian manuscripts to study their script, ruling and ornament.
History
2015
Calligrapher Yousif Thanoon takes part in Oujda’s first calligraphy festival (5 June 2015); the Centre will bear his name.
2016
The Centre is founded in Oujda on 26 February 2016, the first association teaching calligraphy through the ijaza; 1st National Exhibition of Maghrebi Calligraphy (Moulay El Hassan gallery).
2016–2017
Taking part in the Fez International Festival of Calligraphy (Mohamed Kacimi gallery).
2021
Exhibitions at the Mohammed VI Theatre, Oujda, including during the Culture Minister’s visit and for Heritage Month.
2022
Ramadan exhibition at the Habous complex, Oujda; Oasis Cultures Festival in Figuig.
2023
Exhibitions for Manuscript Day, 8 March, Ramadan and the Night of Museums; Driouch Regional Book Fair.
2024
1st Oujda International Exhibition of Calligraphy (21–26 February); ijaza ceremony (July).
2025
The Mohammed Amine Bouhid Gallery opens with “Hakaya Al Horouf” (15 February); Heritage Month in Oujda, “The ink of Moroccan identity and its enduring heritage” (18 April – 18 May).
2026
Ten years of the Centre; publication of “From the Master’s Hand to the Student’s Hand”.
Oujda International Exhibition — first edition results, 2024
- countries
- 14
- artists
- 116
- artworks
- 142
- workshop and lecture participants
- 753
- visitors over two months
- 10000+
Activities in pictures
A documentary gallery sorted by activity and year, drawn from the Centre’s brochure.
20161st National Exhibition of Maghrebi Calligraphy — Moulay El Hassan gallery, Oujda 2016Fez International Calligraphy Festival — Mohamed Kacimi gallery 2017Fez International Calligraphy Festival, 2017 2021Exhibition for the Culture Minister’s visit — Mohammed VI Theatre, Oujda 2021Heritage Month and Ramadan exhibition — Mohammed VI Theatre, Oujda 2022Ramadan exhibition — Habous complex, Oujda 2022Oasis Cultures Festival, 15th edition — House of Culture, Figuig 2023Manuscript Day exhibition — Regional Library, Oujda 20238 March exhibition — Institut français gallery, Oujda 2023Ramadan exhibition — Banque Populaire gallery, Oujda 2023Night of Museums and Galleries — Mohammed VI Theatre, Oujda 2023Regional Book Fair — Driouch 2024Maghreb Book Fair “Maghrebi Letters” — Oujda 2025Maghreb Book Fair, 2025 edition — Oujda 2026Book Festival — Tetouan 2026Exhibition for the Regional Library opening and Heritage Month — Oujda 2026Guest of honour, Regional Crafts Fair — Oujda 2024Poster of the 1st Oujda International Exhibition (21–26 February 2024) 2024Official opening and visit of the participants’ exhibition 2024International symposium — Mohammed I University, Oujda 2024Kufic workshop at the National School of Architecture; ebru and Latin calligraphy workshops at the Institut français, Oujda 2024Dr Farid Benaddi’s lecture on Andalusian geometry; composition workshop (Saud Khan, Saudi Arabia) and Moroccan ornament workshop (Aqa Hamidi) 2024Ebru workshop with Antonella Leoni (Italy) and Diwani workshop with Ahmed Al-Mureikhi (Oman) 2024Closing ceremony and certificates Workshops at the culture houses of Berkane and Figuig and the Mohammed VI Theatre Workshop at Mohammed VI University Hospital, Oujda; workshop and talk at the Aqaba Forum (Jordan) Workshop and talk on National Pharmacists’ Day; workshop at the Habous cultural complex Symposia on Maghrebi calligraphy, its history and teaching — Bouarfa and Oujda Lectures by Dr Farid Benaddi on meaning, image and aesthetics in calligraphy Lecture “Techniques of writing the Qur’an” by Belaid Hamidi International online symposium: “Arabic calligraphy: aesthetics and heritage” “Connecting today’s generation to its calligraphic roots” with Belaid Hamidi Kairouani Kufic workshop Natural paper-making workshop with Mohamed Serghini Floral ornament workshop with Razan Al-Khatib (Jordan) Diwani and Fatimid Kufic course with Ahmed Al-Mureikhi (Oman) Meeting with calligrapher Jassem Meraj (Kuwait), Heritage Month Letter-sculpture and hurufiyya workshops with Mohsen Gharib (Bahrain) 2025Opening of “Hakaya Al Horouf” and of the Gallery 2025Works, Qur’ans and manuscripts on show at the Gallery
Pages focused on children are not published, to respect their privacy, until consent is confirmed.
Catalogues and publications
The Centre’s official publications with their original covers. Browsing and downloads will be enabled once publication consent is confirmed.
2026
From the Master’s Hand to the Student’s Hand
Ten years of learning, ijaza and passing on Maghrebi calligraphy at the Thanoon Centre (110 pages).
Available on request- Thanoon’s Visual Memory, 2016–2026Original cover not yet available on the site
2026
Thanoon’s Visual Memory, 2016–2026
A photographic record of ten years of the Centre’s activities.
Available on request - Heritage Month 2025 report — OujdaOriginal cover not yet available on the site
2025
Heritage Month 2025 report — Oujda
Report on Heritage Month (18 April – 18 May 2025), supported by the Culture sector, in partnership with the Oriental Region Wilaya and the Oujda-Angad prefectural council, in cooperation with ICESCO.
Available on request 
2025
Mohammed Amine Bouhid Gallery catalogue
Opening catalogue of the gallery and “Hakaya Al Horouf” (33 pages), viewable on the gallery page.
Browse on the gallery page
2024
Final report of the ijaza ceremony
The July 2024 ceremony: 29 ijazas granted to 19 calligraphers (37 pages).
Available on request
2024
Final report, Oujda International Exhibition — 1st edition
Report on the 1st edition (21–26 February 2024): exhibition, symposium and workshops (102 pages).
Available on request- Short catalogue of the Centre’s activities, 2016–2023Original cover not yet available on the site
2023
Short catalogue of the Centre’s activities, 2016–2023
An overview of the courses, workshops, lectures and exhibitions of the Centre’s first seven years.
Available on request 
2022
Photo report: “Maghrebi calligraphy, identity and spirituality” — Ramadan 1443
Exhibition, workshops and symposium, with the Habous delegation in Oujda (52 pages).
Available on request
Contact the Centre
The Centre’s institutional details are separate from the calligrapher’s personal contact.
- Phone+212 601 534 535+212 601 550 551
- Email[email protected]
- Address63 Abderrahmane Mokhtari Blvd, Lot. Boustane, Oujda, Kingdom of Moroccoas given in the Centre’s 2026 brochure
- The Centre’s Facebook page