COMMUNITY ARTS EDUCATION COORDINATOR
What We Do
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. We envision 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.
At Sitar Arts Center, students engage in affordable, high-quality education and workforce development in the visual, digital, and performing arts. Each semester, 80% of students are from Washington, DC households at 60% or less of the area median income. Programs take place year-round during out-of-school time in Sitar's state-of-the-art facilities, which feature an 85-seat theater, visual and digital art studios, a dark room, dance studios, and private and ensemble instrumental music studios.
Located in the vibrant Adams Morgan neighborhood, Sitar's community includes youth from every ward in DC. Across the year, up to 900 students engage in high-quality classes including instrumental music, ballet and hip-hop dance, acting and musical theater, digital photography and filmmaking, and more. Each summer, children from K- 8th grade enjoy our full-day, 6-week Camp Sitar, and teens enroll in summer workforce development programs.
Your Compensation
Annual salary is commensurate with experience, ranging from $54,167 to $55,556.
When and Where You'll Work
The Community Arts Education Coordinator is a hybrid in-person and remote role. Most workdays will be in-person at Sitar Arts Center. Remote options during non-program hours will be available after you finish your probation period. You will also attend periodic evening and Saturday events, such as the annual gala, special events, and student showcases and performances.
Who You Are
You're a welcoming, organized, and community-minded professional who enjoys creating positive experiences for children, teens, families, and community members. You believe the arts have the power to build confidence, belonging, and connection, and you're excited to support programs that help young people thrive.
You excel at coordinating programs, events, and logistics while building strong relationships with students, families, and partners. You're detail-oriented, adaptable, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
You communicate with warmth and professionalism, collaborate effectively with others, and are committed to creating safe, inclusive, and engaging spaces where every member of the Sitar community feels supported and valued.
Key Qualifications and Experience
- Experience coordinating programs, events, or administrative operations in youth development, arts education, nonprofit, education, or community-based settings
- Experience working with children, teens, and families in a customer service or program support role
- Strong organizational, communication, and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Spanish fluency preferred
Requirements
- Background check and TB test
- Ability to work in person, plus some evenings and Saturdays for community events.
What We’ll Take Care of For You
We’ll do our best to take care of you so that you can take care of our children and youth.
- Medical Benefits: 100% employer-paid medical and vision insurance plans, voluntary employee-paid dental plan
- Paid Leave: Unlimited Flex Leave, paid weeklong semester breaks, paid holidays, parental leave, sabbatical policy
- Wellness & Professional Development: Remote work options, Annual Professional Development and Wellness fund, and professional development opportunities
- Financial: Simple IRA for retirement, flexible spending account
- Disability and Insurance: Short-term disability, long-term disability (LTD), and life insurance
- Perks: Metro reimbursement and an employee assistance program for those with the LTD plan
What You’ll Do
Community Arts Education Team members create welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring arts experiences that help children, teens, families, and community members feel connected and supported. Together, the team designs and delivers high-quality programs, events, and community engagement opportunities that foster creativity, belonging, and lifelong participation in the arts.
As the Community Arts Education Coordinator, you will help bring these experiences to life by coordinating student, family, and community engagement activities, supporting program operations, and leading the planning and logistics for Camp Sitar. Through thoughtful communication, collaboration, and organization, you will help ensure our programs run smoothly while creating a safe, engaging, and welcoming environment where every participant can thrive.
Core Responsibilities Include:
Student & Family Engagement Coordination (35%) Facilitate a welcoming, inclusive, accessible, and inspiring community environment for students, families, and faculty through the implementation of thoughtful events and communication.
- Plan, implement, and track community engagement activities that foster belonging and encourage community connection with Sitar, including but not limited to, end-of-semester showcases, faculty showcase, student and family orientations, and community events.
- Lead family and caregiver programming, planning and hosting events and activities, such as Art After Hours and Caregiver meetings, in coordination with Sitar staff.
- Coordinate the data collection and tracking for program attendance, RSVP lists, permission slips, and walking group waivers for Sitar events, trips, and activities.
- Partner with Sitar staff to aid in outreach planning and efforts to help retain and increase student, faculty, and partner engagement, including working with schools and community organizations.
- Identify, communicate, and coordinate with students, families, and alumni in need of services and resources, as well as ensure student engagement in registered programs through phone calls and email.
- Support the Associate Director of Community Arts Education by researching community resources available for youth programming, building relationships with partners, and reaching potential new families who could benefit from Sitar’s programs.
Program Administration (30%) Collaborate with team to successfully design, implement, and coordinate programs to ensure Sitar’s students are engaged, safe, and successful.
- Ensure a safe and creative learning environment for all students by helping to research, develop, and enact health, facility, classroom, and behavior policies and procedures and assist with communicating these to students and families.
- Ensure availability during program times to provide support to community members and classes whenever necessary, including signing students in and out of programs and assisting in classrooms and with class transitions.
- Collaborate with Community Arts Education team members to ensure classes and programs are successfully designed, implemented, and coordinated each semester, including ordering event and classroom materials; stocking supplies and organizing classroom spaces; and tracking and coding expenses.
- Coordinate the effective communication of all events, programs, and activities including but not limited to, end-of-semester showcases, faculty showcase, student and family orientations, and community events.
- Coordinate the Instrumental Music Academy, including rescheduling private lessons and instrument maintenance.
- Coordinate the school year snacks and summer camp meals for Sitar students, ensuring compliance by obtaining and maintaining proper licensing to handle food at all Sitar facilities.
- Support Sitar’s program evaluation process by assisting with feedback meetings, class visits, surveys, and focus groups.
- Assist Program Operations with semester registration and enrollment of students.
Camp Coordination (30%) Coordinate the planning, preparation, facilitation, and assessment of Sitar’s Summer Camp, Camp Sitar. Serve as the main Camp Sitar contact for families and camp counselors.
- Coordinate the implementation of the Camp Sitar program, including creating internal and external camp documents; managing logistics for field trips, events, and activities; ordering event and classroom supplies; and tracking expenses.
- Collaborate with Community Arts Education Team leaders to create and facilitate parent orientations and hire, onboard, and train summer camp staff, including faculty and camp counselors.
- Support the Camp Sitar program data collection, tracking, and evaluation process for relevant Camp Sitar data, including but not limited to, student attendance, student behavior, participant surveys, and focus groups.
Administrative (5%)
- Foster and encourage a positive staff culture by embracing, living, and encouraging our values.
- Provide support for Sitar events such as, but not limited to, semester registration, student performances, community events, volunteer appreciations, center tours, and the annual gala.
- Attend and participate in required meetings, annual planning sessions, trainings and retreats.
And other duties as assigned by the Associate Director of Community Arts Education.
Our Values
Embed Equity
Embed equity in our systems, programs, and spaces to advance social justice.
Everyone should have equitable access to opportunities, representation, and voice.
Foster Belonging
Foster belonging by engaging, supporting, and celebrating our diverse community members through genuine and meaningful relationships.
Everyone deserves a welcoming space where they can feel like they belong.
Prioritize Balance
Prioritize balance between the mental, emotional, physical, and creative well-being within ourselves and our fellow community members.
Everyone deserves the opportunity and support to prioritize wellness within their lives.
Build Trust
Build trust by assuming positive intentions and taking ownership of our words, actions, responsibilities, and commitments.
Everyone benefits when we approach relationships with openness and commit to follow through.
Inspire Transformation
Inspire transformation by listening to, learning from, and growing with our community and the world around us.
Everyone can be a student, and anyone can be a teacher.
Encourage Collaboration
Encourage collaboration with thoughtful and clear communication, a curious mind, and a creative spirit.
Everyone benefits when we work together as a team.
How You Can Apply
This position will remain open until filled. However, for best consideration, please apply by August 29, 2026.
You need to submit a resume and answer all required questions. No phone calls, please.
After applying, you’ll receive an email confirming that we have your application on file. If you’re selected for the next stage, you will be contacted for an interview. The hiring process can take 7-9 weeks after posting. You will be considered if the position is still vacant.
We appreciate your interest in Sitar Arts Center. Sitar Arts Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. Sitar Arts Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, and marital status, or any other basis protected under federal, state or local laws.
For more information about Sitar Arts Center, please visit www.sitarartscenter.org.
