SITAR ARTS CENTER PERMANENT COLLECTION

Whenever someone tells the story of how and why Sitar Arts Center began, they start by remembering Patricia Sitar. A lively and creative spirit, Pat spent much of her life exploring the arts and looking for ways to better society. In the late 1970s, she joined the Church of the Saviour in Washington, DC, and became heavily involved in hers Adams Morgan community.

Pat grew concerned that not enough was being done to address the needs of children living in the neighborhood, and in 1985 Pat and friend Barbara Moore formed Good Shepherd Ministries as a safe and nurturing place that children could go after school. The organization grew quickly, serving nearly 100 students each day and operating with the help of ten staff members and dozens of volunteers.

After retiring, Pat continued to give to the community by teaching art classes to seniors and children and by raising funds for Good Shepherd through art shows and sales of her paintings. Pat passed away in 2001.

As a talented and accomplished visual artist, she understood the enormous benefits of art in improving the quality of individual lives and the community as a whole. When Rhonda Buckley, the director of Good Shepherd Music School, approached Pat with the idea of starting a separate organization to address a variety of artistic needs in the community, Pat fully encouraged the idea.

Because of Pat’s unwavering support and inspiration, Rhonda Buckley named the organization “The Patricia M. Sitar Center for the Arts” in honor of her mentor. Pat was active at the Center until her death, teaching art classes and serving as a close friend to many students and volunteers. Now, Sitar Arts Center will forever be alive with Pat’s spirit and love for the arts, children, and community.

Sitar Arts Center’s mission is to offer possibilities that transform the lives of children and teens born into a world of unequal access to opportunity.

We engage youth in the highest quality visual, performing, and digital arts. We teach the arts so that our students learn about themselves and gain critical life skills. We create community for students and their families. And we are an untiring voice on their behalf.

Each year, 950 students create art at Sitar Arts Center year-round. Featured in this collection are some of our past and present students’ works.

Sitar Arts Center strives for excellence and impact in our work, and in providing arts education opportunities. We create a team environment that supports the best work possible, individually and collectively. We hold our students to high expectations and tenaciously support them in achieving their potential.

As our students grow within our program, they leave with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to develop their creative careers. Some become working artists, musicians, filmmakers, or continue to contribute to the Sitar community as staff members.