Morocco study tour with NAI 2025

The Yves Saint Laurent Museum highlights the powerful connection between a person, a place, and a lasting legacy

Yves Saint Laurent Museum - Finding interpretive inspiration in the textures of Marrakech

Constructing reality: At Atlas Studios, we explore the thin line between artifice and authenticity

A deep dive into how environments—built or natural—can be used to evoke emotion and transport an audience to another time.

Our desert camp experience was a lesson in immersive interpretation: sensory, communal, and deeply rooted in the heritage of the Draa Valley

An evening of deep cultural exchange and starlit storytelling on the edge of the Sahara

Sharing authentic stories and traditions with the people who call these dunes home

A living record of deep time that challenges us to interpret the monumental scale of our natural world

A sensory reminder that the most memorable stories engage every sense

A UNESCO site and keeping the intangible stories of its people alive and relevant

Heritage sites can serve as living classrooms for cultural resilience and architectural ingenuity

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Built over the Atlantic, the mosque's design invites us to interpret the relationship between the built environment and the natural world

A primary interpretive tool to convey devotion, skill, and cultural pride

Modern landmarks can anchor a nation's identity while honoring centuries of traditional Moroccan artistry

Hassan II Mosque is a primary interpretive tool to convey devotion, skill, and cultural pride

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Where empires fade and stories remain. Finding the human thread among the monumental ruins of Volubilis

Using the landscape to reconstruct the daily lives of a Roman outpost on the edge of an empire

Stories preserved underfoot. The intricate mosaics of Volubilis remind us that the most profound interpretive details are often found in the textures of the everyday

Navigating the 9,000 alleys of the Fez Medina—a masterclass in complex, layered urban interpretation

Rabat reminds us that urban interpretation is about finding the balance between grand monuments and the intimate, everyday experiences that define a city’s character

A jewel of Moroccan artistry and deliberate interpretive statement of a nation’s post-independence identity

The site uses its environment to command a sense of reverence, continuity, and historical weight

The Mausoleum creates a powerful interpretive dialogue between the grand ambitions of the Almohad Empire and the living legacy of the Alaouite dynasty

A UNESCO Modern Capital and Historic City

Interpretive sign

Rick’s Café - a masterclass in interpretive world-building

Morocco study tour with NAI: Lessons in Culture, Heritage, and Interpretation

In May 2025, we joined colleagues from around the world on the NAI Morocco International Study Tour—an unforgettable journey through Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains, the Draa Valley, and the Sahara edge.

Over 11 days, we explored vibrant gardens, ancient kasbahs, desert camps, bustling souks, and Berber villages. From a cooking workshop in the mountains to stargazing in Zagora, every stop highlighted the deep connection between people, place, and story.

The tour was more than travel—it was professional development at its best. We shared ideas with international interpreters, experienced diverse approaches to heritage and landscape interpretation, and reflected on how cultural exchange enriches our own practice back home.

The experience reminded us that interpretation is about more than facts—it’s about fostering understanding across cultures, histories, and environments.

Yarning circles

What are universal interpretive themes?