From the HEART:
Celebrating Historic Downtown Honolulu
A two-day celebration in September 2025 of our vibrant, historically important
neighborhood and its creative community!
This September 2025, Downtown Art Center (DAC) presents From the HEART, a two-day celebration of our vibrant, historically-important neighborhood and its creative community!
Hosted in partnership with resident historian Gary Coover and the Fort Street Mall Business Improvement District, the event also marks DAC’s 5-year anniversary of hosting local arts exhibitions!.
Day 1 – Friday, September 26: A Sunset Arts Market in Wilcox Park at Fort Street Mall will feature local arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, and live music. The event aims to engage and inform the community about the rich, vibrant history and modern arts culture of Honolulu’s historic Downtown district.
Day 2 – Saturday, September 27: Daytime activities at DAC for its 5th Anniversary will include a plein air timed outdoor painting competition focused on scenes from Downtown and Chinatown, along with live music, interactive art experiences, and celebratory treats.
As part of the festivities, vacant storefronts along Bethel Street will be revitalized with painted murals and custom historical window displays that share the rich heritage
of the neighborhood.
This event is produced by the team behind the annual HEART of Honolulu Festival.
Mahalo to Island Insurance Foundation
for their support of this event!
FRIDAY
From the HEART: Sunset Arts Market at Fort Street Mall
Friday, September 26, 2025 from 4-7 p.m.
Join us at a special From the HEART Sunset Arts Market at Fort Street Mall and King Street! We're inviting artists, local fashion and craft retailers, and all creatives to join us for an evening of art, music, and good vibes on Fort Street Mall, one of Honolulu’s oldest streets, and historically Oahu’s first shopping center. The goal of this event is to enliven the historic Fort Street Mall, and to redefine the area in the public eye as a neighborhood that is interesting and walkable, rich with events and local culture that everyone can enjoy. Don’t miss live music, live art, and a vibrant array of local crafters and artists selling their work!
When: Friday, September 26, 2025
Where: Fort Street Mall at King Street (Wilcox Park amphitheatre next to Pickles at Forte)
Vendor Information: Standard pricing for vendors is $50 for a 10’ x 10’ space (tent not included). Because space is limited, the first 20 arts vendors to apply will be accepted. If you would like to vend, just fill out the application form below! For questions, please contact Isaiah at dacshop@downtownarthi.org. *Please note that vendors do NOT have to have their own individual event insurance for Fort Street Mall anymore.
This event is organized by the team that brings you the annual HEART of Honolulu Street Festival on Nuʻuanu Avenue. The elements of HEART (Heritage, Entertainment, Arts & Culture, Restaurants and Theaters) together make up the core of our vibrant creative community.
LOCATION: Fort Street Mall at King Street (behind Ross store)
SATURDAY
From the HEART Celebration @ DAC
Saturday, September 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Featuring Live Local Music All Day
+
A DAC QuickDraw Plein Air Art Competition
with Juror Mark Brown
ARTIST INSTRUCTIONS
Artists participating in the same-day DAC QuickDraw plein air art competition are welcome to work in any painting or drawing medium, including watercolor, pastel, oil, pencil, and acrylics on canvas, board, or paper. Photography, computer-generated images, or sculpture will not be accepted. Registration takes place on the day of the event, and is free of charge. Artists must bring their own supplies. Upon check-in, each artist will have their canvas or paper date-stamped and receive a map of the designated area they can work in. All artwork must be completed and displayed at Studio 1C in Chinatown Gateway Plaza by 1:30 PM to be judged!
TIMELINE
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Check-In at Downtown Art Center, Studio C (street level).
NO registration fee.
Artists must sign in and have their canvas, board, or paper stamped.
Artists must be 18 years of age or older.
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Turn in and Hang Artwork
Completed artwork must be turned in and hung by 1:30 PM to qualify for display and judging.
Artists must provide a wired frame or use pre-wired gallery-wrapped canvas.
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Judging
2:05 PM: Announcement of Prizes: Cash prizes will be $500 (Best in Show), $200 (Honoring Chinatown) and $100 (Honorable Mention).
2:30 - 4:00 PM: After-party! Stick around for live music, refreshments, and socializing with your fellow artists. Artists who wish to display their work are encouraged to sign up for the exhibition of works from this event, on view October 1 to November 1, 2025.
For questions about this event, please email info@downtownarthi.org.
Please bring this form with you and turn it in to the DAC QuickDraw table on the day of the event!
