The ARTS at Marks Garage is a collaborative gallery, performance and
office space for businesses and non-profit organizations aiming to transform downtown Honolulu with the power of the arts. Located in Chinatown and the Honolulu Arts and Cultural District, The ARTS at Marks Garage is at the center of an urban revitalization movement that has brought creativity and vitality to one of Honolulu's most unique neighborhoods.
The ARTS at Marks Garage is the key community project of Hawai`i Arts Alliance.
Recent Community Initiatives
The Talk Any Kine (TAK) Festival was designed as an informal community feedback and brainstorming session for those who live, work and play in
the Chinatown area. To provide more attractions, this festival also offered
live entertainment, art projects for the children, and free food. In organizing the festival, Marks collaborated with many important stakeholders in the community to help design and implement the event. These planning participants include:
• River of Life Mission
• EAH A Nonprofit Housing Corporation
• Weed and Seed
• Honolulu Culture and Art District
• Nu‘uanu Merchants Association
• Fort St Business Improvement District
• Pacific Gateway Center
• Chinatown Merchants Association
• New Life Church
• City and County of Honolulu
• Empower O‘ahu
• Gallery, restaurant and business owners
• Representatives of the residents at Kukui Tower and Kekaulike Housing
Bright Ideas for Community Change Report
the Mayor’s Chinatown Summit. Ten winners were awarded a maximum of $4000 each for community change ideas contributing to the development of Chinatown and the emerging Arts District. The awards were funded by the Ford Foundation with matching funds from American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawai‘i, Central Pacific Bank, First Hawaiian Bank, and Hawai‘i National Bank. The effort, coordinated by the Hawai‘i Arts Alliance, sought entries from
individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and others, in the
categories of affordable housing, youth, children & families, community identity, education, culture and the arts, cultural tourism, health, historic
preservation, homelessness, neighborhood safety and beautification, recreation, transportation/access, and ideas for enhancing livability in
the neighborhood.
Each awardee is expected to use funds to develop a full proposal for implementation support. They will be receiving technical assistance from Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED) that will also help connect each awardee to other financial and community development resources. The City & County of Honolulu is also committed to pursuing support and resources to help the very best ideas come to fruition.