CURATING THE FUTURE
THE DECORATIVE ARTS CENTER OF OHIO
The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio (DACO) is a museum and cultural center, established in 2001, that is dedicated to American decorative arts from the 18th century to the present. Located in historic Lancaster, Ohio, DACO presents rotating exhibitions of furniture, painting, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, glass, and folk art alongside contemporary craft, fashion and design.
The Center offers public programs including lectures, workshops, gallery talks and art classes for children and adults. DACO also hosts a nationally recognized biennial juried exhibition that highlights emerging and established makers.
Housed in a restored 19th-century building, DACO combines historical context with contemporary conversation, preserving craft traditions while supporting innovation and education for visitors of all ages.
CURATING THE FUTURE
Curating the Future is the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio’s capital and endowment campaign to expand our campus, strengthen collections care, and broaden public access to decorative arts. The campaign funds three core priorities:
Campus expansion and renovation: add flexible gallery and education spaces, improve visitor amenities, and create dedicated conservation and storage facilities to better preserve and present works from our permanent collection.
Collections stewardship and growth: build an endowment for ongoing conservation, documentation, and responsible acquisitions, ensuring the long-term care and relevance of holdings that reflect Ohio’s decorative arts heritage.
Community engagement and education: expand programming, school and outreach initiatives, and artist residencies to deepen public participation and make decorative arts more accessible to diverse audiences across the region.
Curating the Future seeks philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, and businesses to complete capital projects and establish sustainable funding for operations and collections care. The campaign will position the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio to serve as a stronger cultural resource, drive cultural tourism, and inspire future generations of makers and collectors.
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