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January 2025
The Esther Nowell Art Fund
Dear DAC ʻOhana,
We reach out to you today to share the loss of a beloved member of our Hawaiʻi arts community, and announce the establishment of a new fund at DAC: The Esther Nowell Art Fund.
The purpose of this fund is to honor and perpetuate the extraordinary legacy of Esther Nowell (May 1920 - January 2025), a cherished artist and pillar of Honolulu’s art community, who passed away recently at the remarkable age of 104, just a few months shy of her 105th birthday. Esther’s journey was one of immense creativity, generosity, and dedication to the arts, leaving an indelible mark on those who knew her and countless others who admired her work.
Esther’s love of teaching and her passion for art were central to her life. Over the years, DAC was honored to host several of her classes and birthday celebrations, which brought together friends, family, and fellow artists to learn, create, and celebrate the spirit of this unapologetic, indomitable, immensely talented woman.
Her light will continue to shine through her work, her students, and the impact she has had on all of us.
Proceeds from The Esther Nowell Art Fund will go to help support DAC’s creative education programs.
November 2024
A Thanksgiving Message from our Board Chairperson, Sharon Twigg-Smith
Dear DAC ʻOhana,
As Board Chair of Downtown Art Center (DAC), I'm reaching out with excitement and purpose this holiday season. Let me share why I'm more passionate than ever about DAC's mission to make art accessible to everyone in our community.
When I look at Downtown Honolulu today, I'm struck by how much has changed. Where we once had numerous venues for art education and exhibitions, those spaces have dwindled. Yet DAC stands strong – not just surviving but thriving – as a vibrant hub where people of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about art, show their work, and support fellow artists.
2024 has been a remarkable year for DAC. We've hosted prestigious exhibitions including:
The celebrated Wayne Levin Retrospective
The groundbreaking Taiwan Taitung & Hawaii Arts Cultural Exchange
Hawaii Craftsmen's Fiber Hawaii 2024 and the Annual Statewide Exhibition 2024
Hawaii Watercolor Society's 2024 Open Exhibit
Most important, we're now the proud home of the prestigious Artists of Hawaii annual show – a juried exhibition that opens doors for both emerging and established artists to showcase their work. This show epitomizes what DAC is all about: creating opportunities for all artists to grow and succeed.
None of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers who work tirelessly in the gallery and behind the scenes. But we also need your financial support to continue this vital work.
We've set a goal to raise $225,000 this year. So far, we've received just over $40,000 in generous contributions. Will you help us close this gap?
Your tax-deductible gift – whether one-time or recurring – will directly support:
Exhibition spaces that showcase diverse artistic voices
Educational programs that nurture new talent
Community events that bring art to everyone
Every gift matters regardless of size. Consider becoming a monthly or annual recurring donor to create sustained impact throughout the year. Whether it's $75, $150, $500 or more, or any amount meaningful to you, your support helps keep art accessible in our community.
With gratitude and aloha,
Sharon Twigg-Smith, DAC Board Chairperson
July 2024
Wonderful News from DAC!
Dear DAC ʻOhana,
Many of you have already experienced first-hand the vibrant, thought-provoking and educational activities that have taken place over the past many months at Downtown Art Center. From exhibitions showcasing both emerging and seasoned artists to gallery talks, classes, performances, and demonstrations, these enriching experiences are made possible by our dedicated team of volunteers and staff and, most importantly, by supporters like you.
We are thrilled to share a major announcement with you:
Legislative Grant: The Hawaii State Legislature has granted DAC $75,000 for 2025, which will be used to fund year-round arts programming for the public.
Help DAC Meet Its Fundraising Goal
To build off of this generous grant, DAC is launching its inaugural Kupukupu* Campaign. Our goal is to raise an additional $225,000 by December 2024. Donations defray the costs necessary for staffing and programming at Honolulu’s most vibrant and diverse art center.
Click here to make your secure donation to the Kupukupu* Campaign.
Whether you have personally experienced our programming or simply appreciate the value the arts bring to our community, we humbly ask for your support.
Your contribution helps keep art alive and accessible for all. Stay tuned for news about our upcoming events and programs!
*The Hawaiian word “Kupukupu,” the name for a fern commonly found in the islands, is derived from the word “kupu”, which means “to sprout” or “to grow.”
With gratitude,
Sandy Pohl
Executive Director
May 2023:
DAC Awarded $250,000 by the Hawaii State Legislature!
Mahalo for your generous donations and support! DAC has been awarded a $250,000 grant by the Hawaii State Legislature, and we are now in the process of raising matching funds for this amount.
February 2023
Dear Art Lover,
Just as art is more than a painting or sculpture, Downtown Art Center is more than a space. It is an idea that is both simple and profound. The simple – there is an artist inside everyone, and DAC’s fundamental mission is to help everyone find their inner artist. The profound – the arts can inspire us to be our best, and in doing so, lift individuals and the communities that they are members of.
In fact, we believe DAC is essential to our physical, social and spiritual wellbeing. Through our classes and workshops, led by teachers who are qualified, experienced artists, and our exhibits, which light the fires of inspiration, we offer people of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to participate in affordable art and culture activities.
DAC is now on the cusp of its next phase, one in which it reaches an even larger group of Hawaiʻi residents. We have the opportunity to obtain a 10-year lease with three five-year options to establish the city’s art and culture center in five unique spaces – totaling 18,000 square feet – in Chinatown Gateway Plaza, which is a city-owned development.
DAC has applied for a $400,000 grant and needs to raise matching funds. In order to accomplish this endeavor, we are appealing to our ʻohana of supporters, individuals and families: Please help us make this vision of an artistic center of inspiration and hope a reality. Together, one supporter at a time, we can create a world-class center of the arts and creativity that is funded by our community.
Sincerely,
Sandra Pohl, Executive Director, and the staff of Downtown Art Center
Be a Part of the DAC ʻOhana:
· Godparents: $10,000
· Grandparents: $5,000
· Sons and daughters: $1,000
· Grandchildren: $500
· Calabash cousins: $100
Update, December 2022: Things are FINALLY happening, and we’re so grateful for your support. Happy holidays to all of you!
Click here to read an UPDATE letter from our Executive Director, Sandy Pohl.