Graffiti has been called many things: an urban scourge, a sign of civilization's breakdown, a petty crime.
But in Rabat, the city's residents are throwing their arms open to welcome a dizzying array of murals, frescoes and paintings by street artists, infusing the streets of Morocco's capital with new life.
The first annual Jidar Festival, held from May 15-24, 2015, is a celebration of public art. Artists from all over the world have converged on the seaside city, transforming Rabat itself into a canvas. This spring, splashes of unruly color peek out everywhere from under palm trees.
Below, take a look at the Jidar Festival's lush collection of urban art.
Photos by Anouar Oubnichou
This article was originally published on HuffPost Morocco and was adapted for an American audience.