Call for Artists

Hawaiʻi FEAST is collaborating with the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology’s Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) and the Hawai‘i Sea Grant Program to offer an opportunity for artists to submit ideas for a mural to be located at the Lilipuna Pier Parking Lot in He‘eia. The selected artist will be provided $10,000 to design and construct their proposed mural in May and June, 2022. Details about the mural space and submitting proposals are provided below.

ABOUT THE SPACE

The parking lot at the Lilipuna Pier is one of the main entry points to Moku o Loʻe, a 28-acre island surrounded by 65-acres of coral reefs located in Kāneʻohe Bay. This island has many rich stories with various roles through time and currently is home to HIMB, where innovative science, place-based education, and deep community engagement advances knowledge and stewardship of the global ocean and reef to ridge systems. Since the parking lot is highly visible from the ocean, it is an important landmark for many residents who use Kāneʻohe Bay. 

HIMB is excited to have a mural painted on the exterior wall of the parking lot (appx. 2,000 sq. ft) to showcase the various moʻolelo (stories, history) of Kāneʻohe Bay and Koʻolaupoko. Ideally, the mural should display a story that interweaves the past, present, and future of place in relation to Kāneʻohe Bay, from mauka to makai (the mountains to the ocean).

Although HIMB has identified an overarching theme for the mural, they are interested in receiving design proposals from local artists to consider how this theme may be visually embodied in different ways. 

ARTIST SUBMISSIONS

Do you have ideas for this mural space? The selected artist (or group of artists) will be awarded $10,000 and be responsible for designing and implementing their proposed mural in May and June, 2022. The artist(s) will be paid through a service agreement with iterative payments. Funds can be used at the discretion of the artist(s) to support time, effort, and materials required to produce the artwork.

Interested artists should submit their proposals via email to himbdir@hawaii.edu by 11:59pm HST on Thursday, April 21, 2022. Proposals should include:

  • Description of the proposed mural (500 words or less), as well as images and/or a conceptual design of what the mural may look like. 
  • Evidence of past work (can send either website link, or work examples under 4 MB).
  • Note: Collaborative proposals, with multiple artists working submitting as one team, are allowed.

Artists will be informed by Wednesday, April 27th, if their proposal has been selected. Proposals will be selected by HIMB and community stakeholders. Proposals will be judged on their creativity, and potential for positive community impact. The more details artists can provide about their proposed mural, the better. Please send any inquiries to himbdir@hawaii.edu

Artists with a strong connection to the Windward Side of Oʻahu are encouraged to apply. The selected artist(s) will be encouraged to engage the HIMB ʻohana, community groups, and Windward residents to implement their proposed mural. HIMB will help and support the selected artist(s) in engaging local communities.