From the outside, the DeKalb Area Women’s Center, 1021 State St., resembles what you might imagine a house constructed in 1917 would look like: unappealing to the eye.

The inside, however, is alive with ideas and spirit. Functioning as a meeting and art space, the DAWC strives to provide the DeKalb community with thought-provoking entertainment and information on the woman’s spirit. This month, the center will host events celebrating women’s history month.

“We’re not meeting-driven, we’re event-driven,” art gallery director Anna Maria Coveny said. “There are no weekly sets. We host guest lecturers, folk concerts, art exhibitions and women’s workshops. The only meetings we have are committee meetings to prepare for upcoming events.”

An NIU women’s faculty and graduate student art gallery runs from March 2 to 29.

A “Herstorical Tea Program” will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. March 20. Past events ranged from a fashion show where the audience tried on clothes to an opportunity for local women to perform as famous women in history.

“At the tea party, we ask for a general admission fee,” Coveny said. “However, we raise the value of coins with women on them. So if admission was $3, we might make three $1 bills equal to one Sacagewea or Susan B. Anthony coin.”

In April, the center will host a fundraiser for a neighbor of the DAWC who lost her house in a fire. The event will take place at Pizza Hut with a portion of the price of pizzas going toward the fundraiser.

English professor Loren Hecht has become the “resident performance artist” at the DAWC, Coveny said.

“I’m a solo performance artist and have been doing material at the women’s center for about three years,” Hecht said. Hecht also is involved with the company Power Solo Performances.

The DAWC funds its events through various methods. One source comes from memberships. Joining the DAWC costs $10 for students and $25 for non-students. The memberships last one year.

“Membership goes back and forth from about 80 to 100 people. It depends on when and if people renew it,” Coveny said.

Members are allowed access to the center’s feminist library with women’s authors, archives and an autographed book display.

The center also receives several grants from organizations such as the DeKalb County Community Foundation, Rockford Area Arts Council, Illinois Arts Council and Mary E. Stevens Concert and Lecture Fund.

One common question regards the DAWC and male memberships.

“The answer [to this question] is usually yes,” Coveny said. “Some of the woman-oriented programs dealing with self-defense or something would probably not interest them. Poetry readings or art exhibitions have high male turnouts, though. We would love to have everyone.”

The DAWC is open from 7 a.m. to p.m. every Friday.