Our Mission

Sitar Arts Center provides young people in its inner-city community the opportunity to discover their gifts in the visual and performing arts. The Center's programs are built on the knowledge that exposure to the arts dramatically enhances learning skills, cognitive development, social awareness and self esteem.

What We Do

Sitar Arts Center provides multidisciplinary arts education to the children and youth of Washington, DC in a nurturing, creative community where young people discover their inherent talents and gifts. Fostering personal and artistic growth through the visual arts, music, drama, dance, digital arts and creative writing, the Center offers after-school, weekend and summer classes to more than 500 students a year, 80 percent of whom come from low-income households.

More than 100 talented artists volunteer their time each week to teach and inspire the Center’s students in a state-of-the-art facility. Together with a network of premier partnering arts organizations such as Arena Stage, Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Washington Ballet, the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington Performing Arts Society, our passionate volunteer faculty makes a lasting impact on our students’ lives.

Bringing high-quality arts education to families who would otherwise not have these opportunities, Sitar Arts Center relies on charitable contributions to ensure that no family is ever turned away because of inability to pay. To register for classes, volunteer or learn more about the Center, please call 202-797-2145 or visit www.sitarartscenter.org.