Patrick Sciarratta has been the executive director of FAF since 1993. He has spoken at conferences and universities throughout the world on topics related to cultural exchange and global peace building. His staff & he have opened and introduced American groups to emerging destinations worldwide with active, customized exchange opportunities.

Under his leadership, FAF helped create and produces the annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations, now in its sixth year, the Youth Band for United Nations, and a series of internationally recognized Cultural Exchange Programmes both at home and around the world. During the past five years, Patrick led the foundation’s work to offer service to the nation after the tragic events of 9/11, uniting families of victims - he and colleague Szilvia Agoston spearheaded FAF’s arts-related retreats and camps for the families and children of the victims, called Finding New Hope supported with major funding by the Lions, Rotary, Red Cross, Hitachi and others. Indeed through their efforts, those families were able to re-connect with others tragically affected by war and terrorism worldwide. 

Executive
Director

Phone: +1 (203) 542-0652
Fax: + 1 (203) 542-0661
Email: psglobal@faf.org

Mr Sciarratta was recently highlighted in New York media for his lifelong work and in celebration of his 15 years as leader of FAF

Mr. Sciarratta and FAF have worked with governments and members of the travel and culture industries on an FAF programme called The Road Ahead, to institute cultural tourism as a means of locally managed sustainable development, and facilitated the Balkan Youth Reconciliation Seminar Series – a project that helped mend the social fabric in post-war, Balkan states – in cooperation with UNESCO, as a Flagship Partner of its International Year for the Culture of Peace. 

Mr. Sciarratta was an elected Member of the Executive Committee at the United Nations’ Department of Public Information (DPI) for its maximum tenure and then became the co-editor its NGO Reporter, a quarterly that is disseminated to the 3000+ affiliates connected with DPI at the U.N. He also serves on its annual DPI/NGO Conference Planning Committee, where he plays a role in the development of the annual United Nations’ DPI/NGO conferences.

Patrick was lead faculty member for the Arts Management Certificate Program for over a decade at Purchase College of the State University of New York. Prior to his teaching at SUNY, he taught at St. John’s University, Adelphi University, C. W. Post College, and New York University. He was also the Director for Performing Arts at Hunter College of the City University of New York from 1987-1993, during the reconstruction of the Danny Kaye Playhouse, and the Resident Director of the Israel Festival in 1984.

Co-founder and Artistic Director of the Bond Street Theatre Coalition, from 1976 - 1985, Mr. Sciarratta produced, directed and co-wrote 12 plays with the ensemble; all of which were presented in New York and in other national and international venues. He is currently chair of the Board of Directors of Bond Street Theatre.

Mr. Sciarratta has received many awards, including the MacArthur award as the leader of the Palenville Interarts Colony (1980-1992), the Governor’s Citation for Excellence from Governor Rockefeller, the New York University’s Gallatin Award for Achievement in the Arts, and is listed in four Who’s Whos internationally for contributions to culture and community. Mr. Sciarratta is currently on the boards of UNA/Westchester (NY) & Vanaver Caravan.

Invited by Elie Wiesel and King Abdullah of Jordan, Patrick traveled to the 4th Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates in June 2008. Selected by former President Clinton, Mr. Sciarratta served as a Presidential Delegate to the first-ever White House Conference on Travel and Tourism in 1995. In the same year, he was chosen by the U.N. to be an official observer at the U.N. Conference on Women in Beijing, China. He is a certified IATA travel agent and considered a Central European Travel Specialist by the Hungarian National Tourist Board. Mr. Sciarratta holds a Masters Degree in Cultural Anthropology from NYU and a Bachelors Degree in Theatre Arts from Queens College; he has studied and taught in Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic over the past twenty years.