Ambassador Levine proudly showcases the arts adorning Casa Carlucci.
Photos: US Embassy of Lisbon
Appointed the US Ambassador to Portugal by President Joe Biden in 2021, Queens-born Randi Charno Levine strengthens international ties, placing an emphasis on the arts.
Native New Yorker and diplomat Randi Charno Levine is building a bridge between the Big Apple and the nation of Portugal, with a unique foundation in the arts.
The Queens-born United States Ambassador to the beautiful and culturally rich country, boasts a long history of using culture and the arts to bring people together.
Notably, she held a celebrated stint as Commissioner of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington when she was tapped by President Joe Biden in 2021 to channel her passion to strengthen the historic bond between the two countries.
“My road to public service was paved by the arts,” she said when she was nominated to the key position.
That road ran through New York where she and her husband Jeff both emerged from modest beginnings to each become inspirational American success stories in their respective fields — he in construction, and she, as a journalist and patron of the arts. Apart from the Smithsonian, she was also a trustee at the Meridian International Center in D.C, where she chaired the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy.
Now she’s determined to serve and give something back to the country through public service.
The Ambassador in one of her many cultural exchanges at The Catholic University of Portugal.
“We are both very grateful to America for the opportunities that we had and, therefore, we feel this obligation to give back to this country that gave us so much,” she said. “I have had the opportunity to do this through my work, first in philanthropy and now giving my best to represent the United States.”
The Ambassador’s efforts have already been celebrated by First Lady Jill Biden, who last summer visited Lisbon to honor Levine’s efforts during the 60th Anniversary celebration of the “Art in Embassies” initiative launched by President John F. Kennedy decades ago.
“[Ambassador Levine’s] dedication and passion to promoting the arts worldwide is unparalleled,” the First Lady said during the visit. “It strengthens and unites the community of artists that is transforming our countries – not only with their work, but with their commitment to democracy.”
At Casa Carlucci, which houses the American ambassadors in Portugal, Ambassador Levine has carefully curated a collection of American and Portuguese artwork that promote cross-cultural understanding in an effort to bring the two countries closer together.
“It’s art in the service of diplomacy – and vice versa,” she said. “I’m lucky that my experience gives me these tools. The most important part of my job is to communicate my authenticity and my commitment to the bilateral relationship. ”
The residence features a diverse collection of works from a wide variety of American artists as diverse and rich as her New York roots.
“My vision, worked out with curators from the Art in Embassies program and Ana Sokoloff, was to highlight what I consider to be America’s greatest strength – an exposition that reflects American diversity and democracy,” she explains. “It was created to promote a cross-cultural discussion on issues such as gender equality, the rights of the LGBT community, the African-American community, and the legacy of slavery.
“Together, these works create a dialogue.”
Despite her commitment to artistic diplomacy, Ambassador Levine’s work hardly keeps her in the confines of the embassy. She has fully embraced her time in Portugal and frequently ventures across the country to discover every part of its diverse scenery, culture, and traditions.
“People are curious about the United States and in-person contact with Americans, and I am more than happy to oblige,” she says, explaining that she has also ventured into local schools to read her children’s book, Princess Orlita, The Curious Princess.
The Ambassador, who also is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, is enchanted by Portugal.
“Portugal is such a friendly, beautiful, culturally rich and welcoming place,” she exclaims. “It is such an easy place to fall in love with.”
Ms. Levine actively displaying her artistic passion in performance.
She speaks lovingly of the landscapes ranging from cultural meccas like Lisbon and Porto, the spectacular vistas on the Azores archipelago, the majestic mountains in the country’s interior and the spectacular cliffs and now-legendary giant waves of the majestic beaches that have attracted top big- wave surfers to the coast of Nazare.
“Surfing legend Garrett McNamara is one of my best new friends in Portugal,” the Ambassador said. “We rode out on a jet ski to the big wave breaks off Nazare and it was terrifying — but exhilarating.
“I was nervous, I confess, but I couldn’t miss this opportunity. I also wanted to honor this landscape that is so important for Portugal and what it has done in terms of local tourism.
“It was one of the incredible ‘once-in-a-lifetime,’ ‘can’t miss’ experiences you can only find in Portugal!”
Levine insists the people of Portugal are not only friendly to visiting Americans, but actively embrace them.
“Nearly everyone speaks fluent English and all of them are welcoming to me and other Americans!” she says. “It’s an easy place for people to navigate and locals go out of their way to introduce you to their favorite places and customs.”
She is also deeply aware and focused on the business and trade possibilities with this thriving nation with its unique creativity across industries.
“Portugal also has a rich tradition of textile manufacturing, leading some top fashion companies to produce fabrics here,” she explains.
“The archipelago of Madeira is very focused on crafts and artistry and Bordal is one of the main manufacturers of what has become signature embroidery utilized by many of the top fashion companies in the world!”
She says her two years in service in Portugal have given her the opportunity to connect with the people and culture in a meaningful manner that creates mutual understanding and trust.
“The most important part of my work is to communicate my authenticity as a human being,” she says. “To communicate that I value the things that happen here in Portugal, the cultural institutions, the private sector, and that I value Portugal as a whole, in the big cities and in the smaller places.”
She also speaks of the pride she carries as the representative of her home here in the United States and the weight of responsibility she carries.
“I am an American and a New Yorker who is thrilled to have this opportunity to bring that perspective to this job,” she says. “We see, by the tourism indicators, how Americans feel connected to Lisbon and identify opportunities here, be it in the technological, energy or other areas.
“I like to say that I was very well received. I have been getting closer to the community. And the most complimentary thing people can say to me is ‘you may be the American Ambassador, but we consider you one of us.’
“It’s a great honor to hear that.” DTM