Carla Dirlikov Canales
2021 ALI Fellow
Carla Dirlikov Canales brings to ALI global experience bridging cultures through performing arts. She is an internationally renowned mezzo-soprano opera singer, best known for her portrayals of Bizet’s “Carmen,” which she has performed nearly 100 times in more than 12 countries. A social advocate and cultural entrepreneur, Carla is the founder of The Canales Project, an arts advocacy organization that uses performance and music to address issues and promote conversation about cultural exchange and identity worldwide. She served as co-creator, CEO, and artistic director of programming for the CultureSummit, a forum held in Abu Dhabi to convene arts and policy leaders from around the world on issues of cultural diplomacy, and is also a long-time arts envoy for the U.S. Department of State.