Sitar Arts Center is pleased to announce that current Interim Executive Director and longtime Deputy Director, Maureen Dwyer will take the role of Executive Director, effective immediately. Sitar Arts Center’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Dwyer, recognizing that her deep understanding of the organization makes her an excellent steward of Sitar Arts Center’s mission and a leader and advocate for Sitar’s students.
“The Board’s actions come with the fullest confidence that Maureen is a leader who, with more than a decade of experience at the Center, is able to guide Sitar Arts Center into its second decade of work in our community. We deliberately selected an Executive Director who is able to build and nurture the essential resources—volunteer support, family involvement, community partnerships, and generous philanthropic support—to move the Center forward and provide the very best opportunities for more than 700 students each year,” remarked Sitar Arts Center Board President, Steven Smith.
As Deputy Director, Dwyer was directly responsible for overseeing all of Sitar Arts Center’s programs, worked closely with the Center’s founder, Rhonda Buckley, the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, artistic partners, students and families. Under her guidance, Sitar reached full enrollment and expanded many of its programs to better serve the community, including the growth of teen activities and the launch of a teen leadership program, increased early childhood classes and a new summer camp. Dwyer was also the 2010 Conference Director of Arts Education for a Better DC hosted by Sitar Arts Center, which brought over 90 administrators, educators and artists together in a one-day forum to explore how arts education providers can work together to more inclusively serve the children, youth and families of Washington, DC.
As Executive Director, Dwyer’s main priority will be ensuring that Sitar Arts Center continues to be a place where students and families, regardless of income level, can find a safe and caring space afterschool, on weekends and during the summer months, a high-quality arts education, compassionate relationships with caring adults and meaningful community engagement.
“I truly believe that arts education is not a luxury; it is a necessity for our children and our communities that builds critical and creative thinking skills. As Sitar moves forward into its next phase, the organization is committed to fostering cooperation in the arts education community towards the goal that every single child in the DC area has equal access to a comprehensive arts education” says newly appointed Executive Director, Maureen Dwyer.
