Sitar Arts Center

SITAR ARTS CENTER'S ENGAGES DC YOUTH, FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD TO YOUNG ADULTHOOD, IN BUILDING A CREATIVE COMMUNITY OF LEARNING AND BELONGING THAT REMOVES FINANCIAL AND CULTURAL BARRIERS TO ARTS EDUCATION AND CAREER TRAINING. AT SITAR, STUDENTS HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE VISUAL, DIGITAL, AND PERFORMING ARTS. ALL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED ON A SLIDING FEE SCALE AND 80% OF ENROLLMENT IS RESERVED FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING LOW INCOME. PROGRAMS TAKE PLACE IN SITAR'S STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES AND REACH UP TO 900 STUDENTS A YEAR.

ARTS AFTERSCHOOL: ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CHOOSE FROM A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS IN THE VISUAL, PERFORMING, AND DIGITAL ARTS THAT ARE ENRICHED BY RENOWNED ARTISTIC PARTNERS SUCH AS THE WASHINGTON BALLET, YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS' THEATER, AND DC JAZZ FESTIVAL. IN SITAR'S INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ACADEMY, STUDENTS ENJOY INDIVIDUAL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS AND MUSIC ENSEMBLES. WHEN THEY REACH 7TH GRADE, STUDENTS CAN ENROLL IN THE SITAR EMERGING ARTS LEADERS PROGRAM WHERE THEY DEVELOP ARTISTIC SKILLS, 21ST CENTURY LEARNING AND WORK SKILLS, AND MEANINGFUL SOCIAL CONNECTIONS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, MENTORSHIPS, FIELD TRIPS TO CULTURAL VENUES AND COLLEGES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.THROUGH MULTIGENERATIONAL MUSIC, ART, MOVEMENT, AND THEATER CLASSES, OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS (AGES 0-6) DEVELOP PRE-LITERACY SKILLS, BECOME MORE SOCIALLY AWARE AND CONFIDENT, AND BEGIN THEIR PATH TO LIFE-LONG AND SELF-ADVOCATING LEARNING. MANY OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSES ARE BILINGUAL IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. A MUSIC THERAPY CLASS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEVINE MUSIC SUPPORTS TODDLERS IN PROCESSING AND EXPRESSING THEIR EMOTIONS THROUGH MUSIC.

ARTS AFTERCARE:FOR WORKING FAMILIES WHO NEED DAILY AFTERSCHOOL SUPPORT, ARTS AFTERCARE IS A 5-DAY PER WEEK PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES DAILY SCHOOL PICK-UP, MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS CLASSES, AND ACADEMIC TUTORING. IN RESPONSE TO PARENTS' CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, SITAR BEGAN PARTNERING WITH PROJECT CREATE TO OFFER WEEKLY THERAPEUTIC ARTS CLASSES.

CAMP SITAR:SITAR'S SIX-WEEK SUMMER CAMP OFFERS A HIGH-QUALITY, CREATIVE, SAFE, AND ACTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR EVERY FAMILY. ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH EXPERIENCE FULL-DAY LEARNING IN VISUAL ARTS, DIGITAL ARTS, S.T.E.A.M, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, THEATER, MUSIC, MOVEMENT, AND CREATIVE WRITING. CAMPERS ENJOY FIELD TRIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:EACH SUMMER, SITAR RUNS A 6-WEEK WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT TRAINS AND EMPLOYS DC YOUTH, AGES 14 24. THE SITAR INTERNS WORK AS CAMP CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS, MURAL ARTISTS, AND MUSICAL THEATER PERFORMERS AND PRODUCTION STAFF AND ARE PAID THROUGH DC'S SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (SYEP). IN 2022, BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES SELECTED SITAR AS THE DC PARTNER FOR THE BLOOMBERG ARTS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THE PILOT EMPLOYED 25 RISING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN WELL-PAID EXTERNSHIPS AT DC ARTS INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE SMITHSONIAN, DC INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL, WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS, AND THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART. SITAR PROVIDES THE INTERNS WITH COLLEGE PREPARATION AND CAREER TRAINING, AND THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO GROW. LOOKING FORWARD, SITAR IS DEVELOPING A YEAR-ROUND, ARTS-BASED CAREER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS AGES 16 24, TO PILOT IN FALL OF 2023.