Arts and Culture Calendar (January 2023)

This arts and culture calendar features SFCA grantees, partners, and Hawaiʻi state and local government programs and events. Questions regarding a particular opportunity should be directed to the organization listed with the opportunity. Inclusion here should not be interpreted as an endorsement. This post was updated on January 12, 2023.

Highlights from this calendar were shared in the January 2023 SFCA email newsletter. To subscribe, scroll down to the bottom of this page.

Looking for Calls for Artists? Please check the January 2023 Grants and Opportunities list.

• 2023 ANA Oʻahu Pre-Application Training Session for Nonprofit Organizations The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Native Americans (ANA) is holding a Pre-Application Training Session in-person January 17-18, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu. In this two-day training, they will go through this year’s Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOS), share tips on how to articulate the strengths of your community-based project effectively, take a deep dive into the evaluation criteria reviewers will use to score your application, and go over the step-by-step process of how to submit an application. This free, in-person training is funded by the Administration for Native Americans. The ANA Pacific Region Training and Technical Assistance Center will be hosting and facilitating this training. For more information, please visit the ANA Pacific website: ANApacific.org.
• State of Hawaiʻi Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) webinar: Join Makuake’s Exclusive Made in Hawaiʻi Portal. Learn how to apply and gain support to promote and sell your products on Makuake in this free webinar, Tuesday January 24, 3:00 p.m. Registration is required: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dv_Rv29YSb2TcisdjSnKcg.
• Bishop Museum “The Work, Traditions, and Stories behind Bishop Museum’s exhibit, ‘Tatau: Marks of Polynesia” now available to watch for free on YouTube: youtu.be/YiHIzi5Sy_U.

• Diamond Head Theatre Opens in New Theatre with Cinderella “Cinderella” January 20 – February 5, 2023. For more information and tickets, please visit the Diamond Head Theatre website: DiamondHeadTheatre.com/shows-tickets.
• East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center “Deliquesce: absorbing so much water as to liquify and melt away” exhibit of works by Mary Babcock. Through January 27, 2023. For more information, please visit the University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa Art Department website: hawaii.edu/art/mary-babcock-at-east-hawaii-cultural-center.
• East-West Center Arts and Performance “Hana Keaka: The Art of Hawaiian Theatre at UH Mānoa exhibit in the East-West Center Gallery, through January 8, 2023. Closing reception and panel discussion January 8, 2:00 p.m. For more information, please visit the East-West Center website: arts.eastwestcenter.org/2022/09/20/hana-keaka-the-art-of-hawaiian-theatre-at-uh-manoa.
• Hawaiʻi Craftsmen ʻAha Hana Lima 2023 Artist Presentations and Receptions Receptions and artist presentations by visiting artist Jan McKeachie Johnston and Randy Johnston. The receptions and presentations are free and open to the public. The artists will be teaching ceramic workshops; for more information please visit the Hawaiʻi Craftsmen website: HawaiiCraftsmen.org. 
  • Oʻahu: Thursday, January 5, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at Punahou School
  • Molokaʻi: Thursday, January 12, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Molokai Arts Center
  • Hawaiʻi Island: Thursday, January 19, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Donkey Mill Arts Center (Holualoa).
• Hawaiʻi Handweavers’ Hui and The Glass Fusion Collective “Surrounded by Water” juried art exhibition, Downtown Art Center (Honolulu), August 2-18, 2023. Online registration begins next year (July 1, 2023). For more information, please contact the Hawaiʻi Handweavers Hui at [email protected] or visit their website at HawaiiHandweavers.org.
• Hawaiʻi Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences (HIMELE) Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Aliʻi (Kapolei) February 18; Kona Steel Guitar Festival at the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa (Hawaiʻi Island) March 24-25; Kauaʻi Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium, Sheraton Coconut Beach Resort May 3-4; Kauaʻi Steel Guitar Festival, Sheraton Coconut Beach Resort May 4-6 and Kukui Grove Center May 7. For more information, please visit the HIMELE website: himele.org/hmevents.html.
• Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre (HOT) “The Elixer of Love” February 17 and 19 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. For more information, please vist the Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre website: HawaiiOpera.org.
• Hawaiʻi State Public Library System free events at public libraries include storytime, crafting, and music performances. Learn more about public library events on the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System website: LibrariesHawaii.org/events .
• Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra Upcoming live events include“Beyond the Music” January 12 at the Moanalua Performing Arts Center, “Beethoven Symphony No. 7” January 14-15 at the Hawaiʻi Theatre, and “Hapa Symphony featuring Honolulu Jazz Quartet” April 15 at the Hawaiʻi Theatre. For more information please visit the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra website at MyHSO.org/concerts.
• Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation and the University of Hawaiʻi-Manoa’s Historic Preservation Graduate Certificate Program 2023 Experts Historic Preservation Lecture series: Historic Cemeteries. Expert presenters will lead a journey of six historic cemeteries in Hawaiʻi describing their histories and what makes them significant. The series will be held online Thursday from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., January 26 – March 2, 2023. For more information and to register, please visit the Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation website: HistoricHawaii.org.
• Honolulu Printmakers Artist Talk: Regina Bode, Saturday January 28, 11:00 a.m. For more information, please visit the Honolulu Printmakers website: HonoluluPrintmakers.org.
• Honolulu Theatre for Youth Presents “In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson” based on the book by Bette Bao Lord. January 4-20, 2023. Learn more on the HTY website: HTYweb.org.
• Hui Noʻeau 2023 Annual Juried Exhibition, January 13 – February 17 Opening reception: Friday, January 13, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. View current work of local and mainland artists in all media. An SFCA Acquisition Award Selection Committee (AASC) has been approved to visit this exhibition. For more information, please visit the Hui Noʻeau website: HuiNoeau.com/exhibitions.
• ʻIke Kanaka Exhibit at Maui Arts and Cultural Center, January 17 – March 18, 2023 This invitational exhibit will feature work by ten contemporary Kanaka ʻŌiwi artists, giving voice and cultural context to ancestral ties and relationships. Participating artists: Bernice Akamine, Kalaʻi Blakemore, Hoaka Delos Reyes, Solomon Enos, Pōhaku Kahoʻohanohano, Lehuauakea, Kawika Lum-Nelmida, Meleanna Aluli Meyer, Auliʻi Mitchell, Cory Kamehanaokalā Holt Taum. For more information, please visit the Maui Arts and Cultural Center website: MauiArts.org/ike-kanaka.
• Kahilu Theatre “He waʻa he moku. He moku he waʻa.” group exhibition on view through January 22 Learn more on the Kahilu Theatre website: KahiluTheatre.org/Exhibits.
• Leeward Community College (Pearl City, Oʻahu) will soon be home to a new art gallery to showcase works from LCC students, faculty, and other artists. Meanwhile, the LCC Arts website (Leeward.hawaii.edu/the-arts) and Instagram (@LeewardCCart) feature artworks by LCC students and faculty.
• Manoa Valley Theatre presents “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” January 12-29; “Tick, Tick…Boom!” March 9-26; “The Play That Goes Wrong” May 11-28; “The Chinese Lady” July 13-30. For more information, please visit the MVT website: ManoaValleyTheatre.com.
• Royal Hawaiian Band free lunchtime concerts at Iolani Palace every Friday at noon.  For more information call 808-522-0822 or visit www.IolaniPalace.org.
• Shangri La, Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art “#8x8_shangrila_2023” exhibit featuring new work by eight visual artists and eight performing artists living in Hawaiʻi. January 7  – April 1, 2023. For more information, please visit the Shangri La website: ShangriLaHawaii.org/visit/exhibitions/8x8_shangrila_23.
• Wailoa Arts Center 2023 Exhibits (Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island)
  • “A Muʻu in time” exhibition of muʻumuʻu, January 13 – February 17, 2023.
  • “Light and Shadow” juried black and white photography exhibit, March 3-30, 2023.
  • “MANA” curated by Nelson and Kainoa Makua, April 7-27, 2023
  • “10x10x10 Artists Challenge” May 5-25, 2023
  • “6^th Annual MidSummer Art Celebration” June 2-28, 2023
  • “In the Time of Climate Change” July 7-27, 2023
  • “13^th Annual Abstract Only!” August 4 – September 14, 2023
  • “Toi o Taranaki ke ti Tonga” October 6-26, 2023
  • “15^th Annual Hawaiʻi Nei” November 3 – December 14, 2023
  • Learn more on the Wailoa Arts Center website: WailoaCenter.com.
• Windward Community College, Gallery ʻIolani “Listening for a Heartbeat: A Retrospective of Works by Emily McIlroy” exhibit February 3 – March 3. Artist opening reception: Friday, Feb 3, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Gallery ʻIolani website: gallery.windward.hawaii.edu.
• Women Artists of Hawaii exhibit at Pauahi Tower Gallery, January 7 – March 11, 2023 A group of 15 invited artists that reflects a cross section of women artists currently working in Hawaiʻi: Emily Carl, Taylor Cobb, Carol D’Angelo, Jodi Endicott, Kris Goto, Christina May Ho, Denise Karabinus, Tamara Moan, Paula Nokes, Jessica Orfe, Wendy Roberts, Allison Roscoe, Laura Smith, Eileen Towata and Liz Train. Pauahi Tower Mezzanine Gallery,1003 Bishop Square (downtown Honolulu), Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• University of Hawaiʻi-Manoa Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity Landscape Analysis Survey Dissemination Workshops, January 19 and 24, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Learn more and register on Zoom:
  • Session 1: hawaii.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAsce2hqjIoG9PCv8Z0GOSgf8kVBeNR71de.
  • Session 2: hawaii.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwucOyvpz8oHtImaM3fVOBeS_zfkqXymITc.
• University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa Department of Art and Art History
  • “Eduardo Joaquin: Liminality” exhibit at the Commons Gallery through January 8, 2023. Joaquin is a BFA candidate at the University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa. Exhibit organized by students in Art 360: Alexandra Melendez, Megan Ridings and Mickaela Valenti. Closing reception Sunday, January 8, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Learn more on the UHM Art and Art History Department website: hawaii.edu/art/exhibitions-events-museum.
• University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa (UHM) Better Tomorrow Speaker Series: incisive conversations on the most important questions of our time. Learn more and register on the UHM website: manoa.hawaii.edu/speakers
  • March 2, 2023: Ruth Ben-Ghiat, historian, MSNBC columnist, and author of “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present”.
  • March 23, 2023: Mona Hanna-Attisha, author, activist, and pediatrician.
• VSA International Young Musicians Program applications close January 19 Applications for the VSA International Young Musicians Award Program for musicians ages 14-25 with disabilities close January 18, 2023. Winners receive $2,000 and perform on Millennium Stage (Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.) in July 2023. This program is open to soloists and ensembles of all genres. Review eligibility requirements and application details on The Kennedy Center website: kennedy-center.org/education/opportunities-for-artists/competitions-and-commissions/vsa-international-young-musicians.