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Sitar Arts Center Welcomes 60 Interns at 24 Cultural Institutions as Part of the Bloomberg Arts Internship Program
Sitar Arts Center Welcomes 60 Interns at 24 Cultural Institutions as Part of the Bloomberg Arts Internship Program
Rising public high school seniors to receive college readiness training and paid summer internships at renowned arts and cultural organizations
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2025 — Sitar Arts Center is proud to announce that 60 rising public high school seniors will receive paid summer internships as part of the Bloomberg Arts Internship program in Washington, D.C., managed by Sitar Arts Center. Through the program, students will complete internships at one of 24 local cultural institutions, learning valuable skills that will prepare them for success in higher education or any career field they choose to pursue. Sitar has partnered with Bloomberg Philanthropies since 2022 to host interns participating in the program.
BAI builds on Sitar’s 25-year history of providing high-quality and accessible arts education to children, teens, and young adults from every Ward of Washington, DC. Fostering a creative community of learning and belonging, Sitar removes financial and cultural barriers to arts education and career training and believes everyone should have access to quality arts education. Each year, Sitar provides transformative arts experiences to hundreds of students, including more than 100 paid internship positions through its workforce development program.
“Partnering with Bloomberg Philanthropies on the Bloomberg Arts Internship provides essential opportunities for D.C.’s young people to gain the tools, experiences, and confidence they need to succeed,” said Maureen Dwyer, executive director of Sitar Arts Center. “This program not only prepares students for college and career pathways but also connects them to the city’s vibrant arts community, helping them see the arts as a resource for both personal growth and professional opportunity. We’re thrilled to continue this collaboration for a fourth consecutive year – our biggest yet.”
Since it began in 2012, the BAI has supported 1,700 paid internships at more than 250 cultural organizations and maintains an active alumni network. BAI is the largest, and one of the few, programs that offers paid internships for high school students in the cultural sector in the United States. BAI is currently operating in seven cities (Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C), with an expansion to Los Angeles and San Francisco planned for 2026.
BAI equips students for workforce success in the arts and beyond through paid internships, intensive college-readiness training, and professional development. Participants gain mentorship, sharpen writing skills, and build a portfolio with a cover letter, resume, and work samples. Weekly workshops, cultural site visits, and career panels with arts professionals enhance their experience, while the curriculum also addresses mental health to support students’ wellbeing.
Recent evaluations of the BAI program underscore its impact: 81% of alumni enrolled in college, compared to the national average. Additionally, 77% of participants increased writing proficiency, with nearly half achieving scores that would exempt them from remedial college coursework.
Sitar is leveraging its longstanding relationships with leading local arts and cultural organizations across the city to connect interns and worksites. Along with Sitar Arts Center, BAI worksites will include:
- Arena Stage
- Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
- Dance Institute of Washington
- GALA Hispanic Theatre
- GirlsRock! DC
- Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
- National Building Museum
- O Museum in the Mansion
- Project Create
- Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage
- Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery
- Spooky Action Theater
- Studio Gallery
- The DC Arts Center
- The Fearless Artist
- The Inner Loop
- The Kreeger Museum
- The Theatre Lab
- The Washington Ballet
- Theater Alliance
- Theater J
- Touchstone Gallery
- Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
BAI will run seven weeks in Washington, D.C., from June 23 through August 8. Interns will earn a living wage while gaining hands-on experience and mentorship that will prepare them for future educational and career opportunities.
About Sitar Arts Center
Founded in 2000, Sitar Arts Center advances equitable access to high-quality education and workforce development in the visual, performing, and digital arts. Sitar Arts Center 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. Sitar envisions a city in which all young people experience transformative moments through quality, accessible arts education, and career training, and are supported on their path to discover their creativity and achieve their full potential. For more information, visit www.sitarartscenter.org.