About Us

Impact

2025 Impact Report

Since 2000, Sitar Arts Center has engaged over 6,000* children, teens and young adults in building a creative community of learning and belonging that removes financial and cultural barriers to arts education and career training. What began as a bold commitment to equity has grown into a leading model for creative youth development, rooted in equitable access to the arts.

*unique individuals

Download 2025 Impact Report

ENGAGING DC YOUTH

Every studio moment, performance minute, and internship day is a strategic investment in D.C. youth. For 25 years, Sitar has unlocked access to artistic discovery and professional opportunity, equipping hundreds of youth each year with the skills, confidence, and community needed to thrive at every stage of development.

404 youth, ages 0-24, in Early Childhood Arts, Arts Afterschool and and Instrumental Music Academy programs

139 youth, ages 6-14, in Camp Sitar

159 teens, ages 14-24, participated in Creative Career Programs

Our Student Body

STRENGTHENING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Access to high-impact, out-of-school time programs is out of reach for many families. Sitar addresses this opportunity gap through a creative youth development model, where young people build skills through the arts that support long-term success. Through year-round programs, D.C. youth develop the mindsets, social skills, and confidence needed to achieve their full potential.

ARTS AFTERSCHOOL

CAMP SITAR

Summer often disrupts the developmental progress students achieve throughout the school year. During Sitar’s six-week summer camp, youth continue to grow through arts-based learning experiences—staying engaged with peers, deepening their creativity, and strengthening both cognitive and non-cognitive skills.

96% of campers demonstrated critical and creative thinking skills.

88% of campers demonstrated collaboration skills.

80% of campers demonstrated initiative and adaptability skills.

BUILDING A CREATIVE COMMUNITY

A city where every young person experiences transformative moments through the arts requires more than programs; it requires community. Since welcoming our first 50 students and 30 volunteer faculty 25 years ago, Sitar has become a trusted community anchor, uniting volunteers, teaching artists, and local leaders to expand opportunities and foster belonging for D.C. youth.

In 2025, 179 volunteers, seasonal faculty, and program assistants came together to bring our mission to life.

Fostering Belonging

Belonging is the foundation for growth. At Sitar, strong relationships between students and caring adults foster a culture of trust and support, ensuring young people feel seen, heard, and valued.

In a survey from the Deputy Mayor of Education’s Office our youth rated their Sitar experience on a scale of 1 to 4:

3.8 out of 4: an adult at Sitar listens to and respects them.

3.5 out of 4: an adult at Sitar is interested in their thoughts.

3.4 out of 4: an adult at Sitar helps them solve problems.

DEVELOPING TOMORROW’S CREATIVE WORKFORCE TODAY

Sitar’s Creative Career Programs connect education to opportunity, equipping teens and young adults with paid, real-world experience and in-demand skills while removing financial barriers to professional growth.

Since launching in 2022, Sitar’s Creative Career Programs have grown by 57%.

By the end of their 2025 summer internships, teens and young adults gained valuable skills, leading to:

97% of interns reported feeling confident they have something to contribute to a professional space.

85% of Bloomberg Arts Internship interns reported feeling prepared for college.

82% of Bloomberg Arts Internship interns reported positive assessment of their critical thinking skills.
80% of interns reported feeling comfortable advocating for themselves in the workplace.