News
Get the latest news and events or subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates from the SFCA.
America250 $25k grant for Hawaiʻi veterans
Update: deadline extension The deadline has been extended from January 21, 2026 to February 6, 2026. About the grant In
How does a Hawaiʻi state government site get an SFCA Commissioned Work of Art?
The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) assists Hawaiʻi state government sites with commissioning site-specific permanent works of
2026 Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Award Winners announced
Gold Key award-winning artworks will be on display at Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, February 14 – March
SFCA Board of Commissioners general meeting, Friday January 9, 2026
Date, Time, and Location Agenda 2026 January 9 SFCA board general meeting agenda (PDF) Zoom link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83639692243?pwd=1XIozLWOhkpmpRIFWiVd1SLGaXx0U0.1 Meeting ID: 836
News Release: SFCA, MACC, Schaefer International Gallery announce Schaefer Portrait Challenge exhibit at State Art Museum
This news release was emailed to local media and state legislators on December 30, 2025. The Hawaiʻi State Foundation on
State Art Museum galleries open Friday with new portrait exhibits
“Schaefer Portrait Challenge” and “Contemporary Portraiture: Art in Public Places” open Friday, January 2, 2026 in the second floor ʻEwa
State Art Museum main galleries temporarily closed
Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum main galleries on the second floor are temporarily closed, December 7, 2025 –
SFCA exhibit visits, September – October 2025
Art Acquisition Selection Committees (AASCs) visited the exhibits listed below in September and October 2025. The committees have voted on artworks to nominate for the SFCA Art in Public Places Collection. Nominated artworks will be presented to the SFCA Board of Commissioners for purchase approval at a future meeting.
State Poet Laureate celebrated at State Art Museum’s December First Friday event
UPDATE: there has been a change to the First Friday lineup. Dr. McDougall will not be at the December 2025
Hawaiʻi State Poet Laureate speaks at Kauaʻi event November 21
Free, family-friendly event celebrating Dr. Brandy Nālani McDougall, Hawaiʻi State Poet Laureate 2022-2025. Dr. McDougall will be reading along with
SFCA Board of Commissioners General Meeting, November 21, 2025
Decisions about grants, artwork purchases, and more are made by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) Board of Commissioners. Meetings are currently being held in-person and virtually on Zoom, and the public is invited to attend.
Nationwide Grant Opportunity to Support Arts Projects for Military-Connected Individuals
Washington, DC—As our nation approaches the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the National Endowment for the Arts and Mid-America Arts
“Line, Circle, Sphere” with Honolulu Theatre for Youth explores art and movement with young audiences this December at the State Art Museum
Free performances at Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum designed for young people with developmental differences and disabilities are scheduled for December. These performances have limited seats and each child should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
2025-2026 SFCA Artists in the Schools grants awarded to over one hundred schools statewide
Connecting to core curriculum through the arts can significantly increase student engagement, comprehension, and retention of information. Teaching Artists and classroom educators frequently report that students look forward to the sessions.
Arts and culture opportunities (October 2025)
“Land and Sea” by Michael Marshall, acrylic paint on paper and fiberglass screen, 2017. Art in Public Places Collection of
SFCA Board of Commissioners approves purchase of fourteen artworks, including sculpture by Native Hawaiian master carver Rocky Jensen
On August 22, 2025 the SFCA Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of fourteen artworks from five exhibits. These include a koa wood sculpture, “Kanaloa”, by Native Hawaiian master carver Rocky Jensen (1944 – 2023), from the 2025 Hawaiʻi Triennial exhibit at the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center in Hilo.
News Release: student art competition now open, top awards to be exhibited at State Art Museum
Student art competition now open, top awards to be exhibited at State Art Museum FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 2, 2025
News Release: upcoming exhibits at the State Art Museum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday, October 1, 2025(HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi) the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) announces a calendar
News Release: October/November 2025 free, all-ages events at the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum
Hawaiʻi State Art Museum celebrates art and culture with free, all-ages events FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday October 8, 2025 (HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi)
Free performances by Honolulu Theatre for Youth supported by public funding through SFCA
Performing arts spotlight: Honolulu Theatre for Youth collaborates with SFCA and Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum on new
SFCA Community Arts Grant Program application deadlines extended
Community Arts Grants applications are currently open on Hawaii.GoSmart.org. The first part of the application, the Intent to Apply, must be
“Kaiāulu: Rising Together” Climate Artists in Residence Exhibit opens October 3 at Hawaiʻi State Art Museum
UPDATE: the exhibit has been extended to be open through November 21, 2025. This will include the evening event on
Call for student artists: 2026 Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards submission portal open through December 12
Photo: museum visitors in the 2025 Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Student Art Awards exhibit at Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art
Calls for artists and exhibition proposals (September 2025)
A list of federal, state, and other arts and culture calls for artists and other opportunities. Questions regarding a particular
Nominations open for 2026-2029 Hawaiʻi State Poet Laureate through November 30
Correction CORRECTION: this post has been updated with the correct application due date of November 30, 2025. The post previously
Mini-concert: Broken Cassette, Vol. 1 at the State Art Museum
Event information About the mini-concert Come join Jessica Ackerley, Floteson, Max High, Jonny Lam, and Illnomadic (Navid Najafi) as they
Ke Kumu Hawaiʻi presents Ulana ʻIe workshop: Hīnaʻi Poepoe at State Art Museum
Ke Kumu Hawaiʻi is holding a two-day workshop in traditional Hawaiian twined basketry at the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum on
News Release: State Art Museum dedicates Governor Ige’s official state portrait
The official state portrait of Governor David Ige was unveiled and dedicated on September 21 at Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi
Mini-exhibit celebrating Filipino-American History Month at the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum in October
Exhibit: “Bamboo to Brass: Sonic Journeys Across the Philippines” A display of Indigenous Filipino musical instruments, curated by House of
Explore the Art in Public Places Collection online printable PDF
Download a copy of this flyer to print and share: SFCA-APP Axiell printable (PDF). Explore the Art in Public Places
2026 Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards Competition and Exhibit important dates announced
The annual Hawaiʻi Regional Scholastic Art Awards competition portal opens October 1, 2025. Hawai’i students grades 7-12 (ages 13 and
September 2025 Arts and Culture Calendar
This arts and culture calendar features SFCA grantees, partners, and Hawaiʻi state and local government programs and events. Questions regarding
“Technique and Texture” mini-exhibit at State Art Museum features prints, collages from State public art collection
Technique and Texture About the “Technique and Texture” mini-exhibition A small survey of traditional printmaking mediums combined with a selection
SFCA in the news: “Igniting the spark”
State Art Museum exhibit of artworks by Hawaii public school instructors featured in “Long on Art” column in Midweek Oahu, August 6, 2025.
Calls for artists (August 2025)
Calls for artists and exhibitions in Hawaiʻi (August 2025).
SFCA Board of Commissioners approves loan to British Museum
The SFCA Board of Commissioners has approved the loan of “Kapa Moe: Hae Hawaiʻi” by Bernice Akamine from the Art in Public Places Collection of the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) to the British Museum for an upcoming exhibition.
Curator-led tours of HT25 at the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum through December 2025
Hawaiʻi Contemporary is presenting free tours of the Hawaiʻi Triennial 2025 (HT25) exhibit at Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art
SFCA Board of Commissioners General Meeting August 22, 2025
SFCA Board of Commissioners general meeting Friday, August 22, 20252:30 p.m. until adjourned.Kauaʻi: Office of Economic Development, 4444 Rice Street,
“How do I get my art into the Hawaiʻi SFCA public art collection?”
Currently, most artworks for the SFCA Art in Public Places Collection are purchased from local art exhibits. Having your artwork
Preschool students explore connection between wai and kai through art
After learning about the Hawaiian water cycle, ʻAlani Strode Montessori preschool students explored the connection between wai (fresh water) and
Now hiring: Accountant IV
Work at the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts! Now hiring: Accountant IV. Honolulu, island of Oʻahu. This is
Artworks approved for purchase at July 2025 SFCA Board of Commissioners meeting
Twenty-one artworks were approved for purchase at the July 18, 2025 SFCA Board of Commissioners meeting. These artworks will be
SFCA Community Arts Grant Program FY2027 Applications open August 1, 2025
Community Arts Grants applications open on Hawaii.GoSmart.org on August 1, 2025. The first part of the application, the Intent to Apply, must be submitted by September 30, 2025.
SFCA in the news: Arts agency copes with funding gaps (Honolulu Star Advertiser July 15, 2025)
“While the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is due to receive about $1 million in federal funds from
SFCA in the news: Kamakani Konia in Kamehameha Schools alumni magazine
Kamakani Konia, SFCA Art in Public Places Program director, is in the Kamehameha Schools “I Mua” alumni magazine this month.
SFCA Artists in the Schools spotlight: Maui High School students use art to connect with marine science
Close to 100 paintings of marine life by Maui High School students are on display at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in Kihei, Maui. Students worked as both scientists and artists to communicate the value of Hawaii’s ocean ecosystem.
SFCA Board of Commissioners General Meeting July 18, 2025
Friday, July 18, 2025, 11:00 a.m. until completed. In-person at the No. 1 Capitol District Building Multipurpose Room and online via Zoom.
Hawaiʻi State Art Museum new schedule as of August 2025
Open days will be reduced to four days per week (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) as of August 1, 2025.
Newsletter Signup
Subscribe and keep in touch with news from the SFCA and Capitol Modern (the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum).