Our History
In 1996, Rhonda Buckley was directing a small after-school music education program for inner-city children from low-income homes. Seeing that music brought the students great joy, Rhonda also realized that the structure and discipline that the study of music required was spilling over to other areas of their lives. The children’s attendance and grades in school were improving, and they seemed increasingly confident. The students asked for more. They wanted to learn how to dance and act and paint and write creatively. After researching arts education options for her students, Rhonda realized few existed that were affordable and accessible for families with low incomes.
Sitar Arts Center was founded in 1998 to help fill this void in the community. Namesake Pat Sitar was a gifted artist and tireless advocate for the children of the Adams Morgan neighborhood where the Center is located. Sitar Arts Center officially opened in 2000, providing programs to 50 children within the walls of a 2,600 square foot basement in a subsidized-housing apartment building. The curriculum quickly broadened from music to include dance, visual arts, drama and creative writing, all taught by volunteer artists and partnering arts organizations, and the organization soon needed more space. In 2004 Sitar Arts Center introduced the community to its current 10,700 square foot home, designed to provide optimal arts education. The student body rapidly grew, and by 2005 Sitar Arts Center served more than 300 students a semester. Approximately 500 students are currently enrolled in 2009.
Community Need for Sitar Arts Center
The children who attend Sitar Arts Center rely on it as a safe haven where they can learn and grow through artistic self-expression during the vulnerable after-school hours. Without options like Sitar Arts Center, many of our children face bleak, unsupervised afternoons and evenings. In this neighborhood, alternate activities include drug dealing and crime, organized by a strong network of local gangs. In February 2005, the section of Adams Morgan where most of Sitar Arts Center’s students reside was designated as one of the District’s 12 high-crime “hot spots” in line for increased police presence. Sitar Arts Center’s goal is to keep 500 children and youth a year inside its doors and out of the “hot spot” each afternoon and evening. Once inside the Center's doors, the students find a wide-range of arts programs.
Our Beliefs
Empowerment of Youth through the Arts
We believe:
- in the intrinsic ability of each individual to be creative,
- that the development and discovery of one’s creative gifts builds self-knowledge and self-love as well as respect and tolerance for the interests and gifts of others.
Service to Community
We believe:
- all young people should have access to affordable quality arts education and the opportunity to showcase their art,
- our programs must reflect the input and represent the diverse interests and multiculturalism of our community,
- our community deserves a first-rate community arts and performance center,
- local artists should have access to rental arts facilities in their neighborhood,
- our programs are a response to a call of love and action for children, youth and their families, and are guided by a spiritual and thoughtfully conceived mission.
Commitment to Excellence
We believe:
- in setting high standards for program curriculum, teaching, partnerships, education, administration and community service,
- young people can achieve high standards when provided with the tools for success,
- our arts training must involve self-discipline, accountability, collaboration and creativity,
- we must provide a safe, nurturing learning environment with state-of-the art tools and facilities,
- in teaching and learning -- evaluating our work -- and setting high expectations for both our students and ourselves.
The Power of Partnership
We believe:
- in creating a network of artists, parents and volunteers to strengthen our programs, mentor and recognize the creative gifts of our young people,
- in fostering mutually rewarding collaborations with neighboring service providers, community businesses and fellow arts organizations that strengthen each partner and the quality of their services,
- in serving as a role-model for like-minded organizations by sharing our learning and successes.
