ABOUT US
OUR MISSION
CREATIVITY. COMMUNITY. COLLABORATION.
The Downtown Art Center mission is to be a vibrant community center for arts and cultural organizations that provide education, experiences, and activities for all ages.
Downtown Art Center (DAC) was established to build a thriving and vibrant Downtown/Chinatown through the power of creativity and the arts. DAC, located in Chinatown Gateway Plaza, provides creative arts experiences to all incomes, ages, and skill levels.
We provide collaborating arts and culture nonprofits affordable spaces for offices, creative maker spaces and art exhibitions, classes, and special events. DAC also supports Hawaiʻi’s art communities by providing opportunities to exhibit and sell their work to the greater community.
OUR STORY
Downtown Art Center (DAC) is a vibrant community hub that champions arts and culture by providing inclusive education, experiences, and creative opportunities for all ages. Guided by a shared vision and core values, DAC fosters connection, expression, and community through the arts.
It began as a dream in the 1990s: what if Honolulu had a dedicated, inclusive arts center to serve the whole community? After years of persistence, partnerships, and a successful pilot space in 2019, DAC officially opened in 2020 in the heart of Chinatown. Born of collaboration and sustained by community support, DAC has become a creative catalyst for Downtown revitalization.
BEFORE
AFTER
OUR PROGRAMS
Downtown Art Center offers arts education for all skill levels, from casual weekly sessions to formal instruction, fostering artistic exploration, skill-building, and personal expression.
Our Exhibitions program features original DAC-produced exhibitions by Hawai'i's leading artists and craftspeople, shows by local art and craft organizations, and gallery opportunities for emerging and audience-seeking artists.
We host a year-round calendar of accessible, inclusive events celebrating Hawai'i's diverse creative community which includes poetry, theatre, live music, and more.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization Board of Directors for Calendar Year 2026
Chair: Sharon Twigg-Smith
Vice Chair: Flora Ling
Vice Chair: Noreen Mullikin
Secretary: Susan Li
Treasurer: Mark Merriam
Board Member: Jerry Rauckhorst
Read more about us!
OUR PARTNERS
These are our creative collaborating nonprofit organizations at DAC:
HAWAII CRAFTSMEN
HAWAII WATERCOLOR SOCIETY
CREATIVE ARTS EXPERIENCE
HAWAI'I HANDWEAVER'S HUI
HAWAIʻI POTTERS GUILD
GLASS FUSION COLLECTIVE
PASTEL ARTISTS OF HAWAIʻI
HAWAIʻI ARTS ALLIANCE
HONOLULU PRINTMAKERS
PACIFIC NEW MEDIA FOUNDATION