Our Vision

How does art break down barriers?

Art is a universal language beyond words through which we find connection and ask deeper questions of ourselves, each other, and our world. Arts education develops the survival skills of creative problem-solving, empathy, flexibility, and collaboration. It empowers individuals and communities to face modern day challenges united by our shared humanity, strength and hope for future generations.

What exactly is community resilience?

We define community resilience as a measure of our region’s capacity to equitably care for individual and collective well-being in facing present day challenges, past trauma and future survival. It is nurtured through the acknowledgment of differences, strengths, weaknesses and fueled by common ground. Our historic building was created by a group of coffee farmers united by a sense of stewardship and aloha. It’s through these concepts, that the Donkey Mill was built and continues to flourish.

What makes Arts and Culture a necessity?

Arts and culture connect us in deeper and more meaningful ways, beyond words to the very core of understanding who we are, individually and collectively.

At the Mill we are going for systemic change beyond providing arts curriculum and teaching artists in area schools.

• We provide professional development for teaching artists and classroom teachers to address the shortage of qualified teachers;
• We are on the SFCA Artistic Teaching Partners Roster and provide mentoring opportunities for teaching artists statewide;
• We are one of five partners with ARTS FIRST, a network of organizations whose mission is to provide high-quality arts education for every student in Hawaiʻi.

We have evidence to show that we’re on the right path.