DOWNTOWN ART CENTER
1041 Nuʻuanu Ave
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
Second Floor Gallery Hours: Tues-Sun 11 AM to 5 PM
DAC Art & Gifts Shop Hours: Tues-Sat 11 AM to 5 PM
ARCHITECTS as ARTISTS 2026
On View January 22 - February 27, 2026
OPEN CALL TO ARTISTS OCTOBER 1 - 31, 2025!
Current Main Gallery Exhibition
Hawaiʻi Craftsmen Annual Statewide Exhibition 2025
On View October 3 – November 1, 2025
The Hawaii Craftsmen Annual Statewide Exhibition, showcases the finest traditional and contemporary craft from across the Islands, in ceramics, fiber, wood, metal, glass, and more. Juried by Sarah Darro, Curator and Exhibitions Director of the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, the exhibition will feature exceptional works selected during her visits to each island, highlighting the creativity and skill of Hawaiʻi’s diverse craft community. Find out more at hawaiicraftsmen.org.
First Friday Reception: Friday, October 3 from 5 - 8 p.m.
Artist Reception and Award Ceremony: Saturday, October 4 from 6-8 p.m.
Current Courtyard Gallery Exhibition
DAC QUICKDRAW
Juried by Mark Brown
On View October 1 - November 1, 2025
As part of our From the HEART celebration on Saturday, September 27, Downtown Art Center hosted the DAC QuickDraw Plein Air Art Competition, inviting local artists to capture the vibrant atmosphere of Honolulu’s Downtown/Chinatown district in a single day.
The event brought together artists of all experience levels for a free, same-day plein air challenge juried by renowned local artist Mark Brown. Artists checked in, received a stamp on their canvas or paper, and set out into the surrounding streets to create original works on site using traditional media: watercolor, pastel, oil, pencil, or acrylic.
Select works from the competition are featured in this group exhibition, which celebrates the creative spirit of the community and the adventure of making plein air art in urban Honolulu.
Current Classroom Exhibition
2025 DAC Student Art Show
On View September 4 - November 1, 2025
Downtown Art Center is proud to present our Annual Student Show, celebrating our community of creative learners! The exhibition is open to former and current students at DAC who have participated in our casual or fine arts classes and workshops.
Current Studio 1C Exhibition
Hawaii’s Woodshow, Na Lā’au o Hawai’i
On View October 3 - 25, 2025
The 2025 Hawaii’s Woodshow™ celebrates its 33rd anniversary as Hawai‘i’s premier woodworking exhibition, presented by the Hawai‘i Forest Association (HFA). This annual event showcases exceptional craftsmanship and innovative design using Hawaiian-grown woods, with artists highlighting the unique beauty of local species. The show emphasizes the importance of planting and stewarding high-quality hardwoods for future generations, with entries judged on Inspiration of Design and Excellence of Implementation by a panel of experts in art, design, and forestry. Visit woodshow.hawaiiforest.org for more information.
Important Dates:
Fri, Oct 3 from 5-8 p.m.: First Friday. Exhibition opens to the public at 5 p.m.
Sat, Oct 11 from 11:30 - 2 p.m.: Turning Demonstration with Aaron Hammer
Sun, Oct 12 from 2-3:30 p.m.: Conversation with the Jurors
Mon, Oct 13 from 12 - 2 p.m.: Open House at Honolulu Kupuna Shed (located at 330 Cooke St. Ste D)
Sat, Oct 18 from 2 - 4 p.m.: Urban Forestry conversation
Upcoming Events & Exhibitions
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DAC Storytelling Night with Jeff Gere
Saturday, October 18 FROM 6-7:30 PM
In the DAC 2nd Floor Classroom
$10 per person.Storyteller Jeff Gere celebrates his Halloween birthday with “Shiver Me’ Tales of True Supernatural Hawaiʻi,” drawn from his 35 years of collecting ghost stories, legends, and encounters. Known for his electrifying performances that blend painting, puppetry, mime, and storytelling, Jeff has wowed audiences across Hawaiʻi and the world, from the National Storytelling Festival to tours in Asia, Europe, and beyond. This DAC performance is his only public spooky show this season!
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Tropical Escape Paint & Sip Workshop with Marina Borovok
Friday, October 24 from 5:30 - 8 p.m.
DAC 2nd Floor Classroom,
$60 per person (includes materials and 2 drinks at the DAC Donation Bar)Join us for a relaxing and fun-filled Paint & Sip event, as we recreate a vibrant Hawaiian seascape, featuring flowing palm trees kissed by the sun and nestled against majestic island mountains.
Experienced teaching artist Marina Borovok will guide you step-by-step through the painting process, making it perfect for beginners and seasoned painters alike. All painting supplies will be provided.
Grab your friends, and get ready to sip, paint, and unwind in this mini tropical escape. Cheers!
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DAC Walking Tour: Art, History & Architecture in the HEART of Honolulu
Upcoming Tour Dates:
-Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
-Saturday, November 15 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Join historian Gary R. Coover, author of "Pocket Walking Tour of Honolulu's Royal Mile," and veteran artist/educator Susan Hogan for a lively 1.5–2 hour walk through the HEART of Downtown Honolulu. Discover the layered history, culture, and architecture of the district, explore pivotal sites and public artworks, and take home a complimentary copy of Gary’s book!Meeting Place: Downtown Art Center, 1041 Nuuanu Ave, Studio 1C (Chinatown Gateway Plaza building level 1)
$25 per person, limit 20 people per tour.
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Upcoming Exhibition: Painted Horizons: Otherworldly Visions of Hawaii's Shores
On View in the Courtyard Gallery November 7-16, 2025
“Painted Horizons” showcases unique views of Hawaii's land- and seascapes by Honolulu-based artist Toni Parras. Toni’s work comprises black-and-white photographic prints on wood that she hand-painted with various media including inks, dyes and oil paints to evoke ethereal visions of the subjects. Some of these works were created in collaboration with Ryan De Seixas, whose drone imagery offers a breathtaking vantage—reimagined through Toni’s painting in her signature style. Each piece in this collection captures the convergence of land, sea, and sky in otherworldly color.
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PlayBuilders of Hawaiʻi Present: "No One Is Prepared for Alzheimer’s: One Family’s Story"
Sunday, November 16 from 2:30 - 4:40 p.m., DAC 2nd Floor Classroom,
$10 per personPlayBuilders of Hawaiʻi Theater Company presents a moving production that explores the challenges and love at the heart of caregiving. The evening begins with a scene from The Super Executive Aunties of the Mālama the Caregivers Collective, created with Oʻahu family caregivers, followed by No One Is Prepared for Alzheimer’s: One Family’s Story, adapted from Lindsay Pjerrou Desrochers’ published journal. Directed by Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak and performed by veteran actors Peggy Anne Siegmund and Allan Okubo, the play brings to life Lindsay’s unflinching yet deeply loving account of caring for her husband George through Alzheimer’s.
DAC Special Projects & Community Support
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DAC Art & Gifts Retail Shop
Our curated first floor retail shop is a showcase gallery where local artists can sell their artwork, and visitors can buy unique gifts created by Hawaiʻi artists.
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Vacant to Vibrant
Our Vacant to Vibrant project aims to prove that Downtown/Chinatown Honolulu’s vacant spaces can come alive again, as valuable hubs of art, creativity, and community involvement.
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Public Art WORKS!
Our initiative to beautify Downtown/Chinatown Honolulu through the power of the arts employs artists to create colorful, fun, photogenic, and uplifting public art pieces that the community can enjoy.
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HEART of Honolulu Street Festivals
HEART is an acronymn that stands for Heritage, Entertainment, Arts & culture, Restaurants, and Theatre & Performing Arts. Together, these elements make up the core of our vibrant creative community, and are the focus of our annual HEART of Honolulu arts festival on
Nuuanu Avenue each April.