The Cultural Diplomacy Study Group

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A global forum for dialogue, exchange, and cultural diplomacy in practice.

The Cultural Diplomacy Study Group, convened at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School, examines how the arts, music, education, and sports sectors can be strategically mobilized to advance foreign policy objectives and address complex social challenges.

Led by Carla Dirlikov Canales, the Study Group brings together participants across government, academia, the arts, education, civil society, philanthropy, and the private sector to examine how culture shapes relationships between people, institutions, and nations.

Through policy analysis, comparative case studies, and discussion, the Study Group equips participants with practical tools for understanding the creative sector as a strategic instrument of soft power and statecraft.

At a time of increasing geopolitical tension and social fragmentation, cultural diplomacy offers a vital space for connection. The Study Group is grounded in the belief that cultural exchange is not peripheral to diplomacy, but central to how trust is built, stories are shared, and meaningful relationships are sustained across difference.