Rosmah: Arts Centre a Haven

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

WASHINGTON: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has expressed interest in setting up a centre that provides multi-disciplinary arts education to children and youths from the low income group in “high-risk areas”.

Such a centre would provide a safe haven for children who were often left on their own by their working parents, Rosmah told Malaysian journalists after visiting the Sitar Arts Centre here on Monday.

She was accompanied by 20 Bakti members including wife of Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datin Seri Masnah Rais, wife of the International Trade and Industry Minister Datin Seri Khamarzan Ahmad Meah, and wife of the Rural and Regional Develop­ment Minister Datin Seri Shuryani Shuaib.

Sitar Arts Centre, a non-profit organisation set up in 1996, provides young people from the Adams Morgan neighbourhood the opportunity to discover their gifts in visual and performing arts.



Starting them young: Rosmah chatting with Sitar Arts Centre students during her visit to the centre in Washington on Monday. — Bernama

Last year, the centre was presented the “Coming Up Taller” Award by Michelle Obama in recognition of its role as one of the premier after-school arts organisations serving youths in the country.

Rosmah said the centre, which offers a variety of arts courses including music, painting and dancing, provided a place where youngsters could spend time after school.

Its executive director Ed Spitz-berg said some US$1.4mil (RM4.48mil) a year was needed to run the place, which meant about US$1,000 (RM3,200) per student per semester.

“The centre, which each year needs to apply for a grant from the government, also depends on support from the corporate sector to keep it going,” he said.

Earlier, Bakti members were taken on a tour of the Capitol by former congressman Don Bonker and his wife Carolyn.

BERNAMA.