“In Barcelona there is never a lack of culture and it is accessible to everyone”, by Anna Slizinova

Anna Slizinova, born in Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine), began her musical training in her native country before obtaining a master's degree in opera performance at the Conservatori del Liceu in Barcelona. Since 2021, she has been committed to promoting music and the arts through her association Unlock Art, of which she is president and co-founder, producing numerous concerts and operatic performances. In addition to her musical career, Anna has more than six years of experience in the IT sector, having progressed from an entry-level position to become Product Director.

In 2017 I received my acceptance to the Conservatori del Liceu. After my master's degree, I produced my first opera in Barcelona, something possible thanks to the international talent in the city. Some collaborators of that production are now close friends and part of Unlock Art.

Barcelona never lacks culture and is accessible to everyone. It is a perfect place for those who enjoy cultural and creative diversity. Life is not only centered in its center; there are events in all neighborhoods, which reinforces living surrounded by beauty.

There are two key issues. Taxes fund healthcare and infrastructure, but many citizens are afraid of not seeing their benefits or feel they are affected too much. I propose an app, which exists in Ukraine, to manage taxes. This year I participated in concerts to support homeless people. We must connect resources with those who need them.

I hope that Barcelona's culture continues to flourish and that the Diagonal tramway runs as planned. With only 1,380 homeless people, it should be possible to solve the problem quickly. I would like to see a reconsideration of expanding the airport. We cannot depend on tourism; we must diversify. We must also improve the tax system to retain global talent, difficult with a system that discourages.

I am proud to call myself a Barcelonian by choice. As an opera singer, I travel most of the year, which complements my life in Barcelona. New experiences enrich our connections, offering fresh perspectives that I can share afterwards. What I miss most about my hometowns, Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv, is mostly sentimental. I long for spring, cozy coffee kiosks and the quiet days that existed before the war.

In Barcelona Global, the objective is to make of the city the best place for impactful talent, and I really think we are on the right track.