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Issued April 11, 2024

About Liliʻuokalani Center

Liliʻuokalani Trust is constructing Liliʻuokalani Center (LC), a 97,000-square-foot facility located at 932 Ward Avenue in Honolulu. At LC, Native Hawaiian youth ages 12-24 will have access to pathway programs in arts, sports, technology, and entrepreneurship, while also being connected to supportive services and a vibrant community of peers. 

Opening in the Summer of 2025, LC will be the signature hub for LT’s youth development initiatives, housing seven floors of program space including an innovation hub, maker spaces, a black box theater, fitness facilities, recording studios, and more.

Project Overview

LT is seeking proposals from Hawaiʻi-based artists to create one to three interior murals or installation(s) at LC.

LTʻs approach is:

• Hopeful and healing. Artwork should inspire positivity, hope, and be focused on thriving futures for our most vulnerable.
• Youth-centric. The Queenʻs beneficiaries are at the heart of what we do. Celebrating them and their inherent mana is a cornerstone of LC.

The selected artist or artists will work collaboratively with youth participants to design and install a mural (or murals) that addresses at least one of the following themes:

• Trauma to thriving. LT works with the most vulnerable Native Hawaiian youth, many of whom have experienced childhood trauma or instability such as the loss of a caregiver or involvement in the Juvenile Justice or Child Welfare Systems. LT supports youth on their personal journeys to healing and resiliency, recognizing that youth are at the center of their own stories.
• Indigenous Futurity. LT envisions a future in which thriving Hawaiian children realize their greatest potential: living healthy, joyful, and prosperous lives, while contributing positively to their families, communities, and the world. “I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope” has been a guiding theme throughout LT programming—being grounded in the past while driving towards an exciting and hopeful future. Artists may explore what “Hawaiian futurity” embodies.
• Hope, healing, and joy. As a safe space for youth where they will build personal agency and strengthen their identities, LC will be a beacon of hope, healing, and joy. Youth who enter the space will feel embraced and celebrated for who they are. Artwork should contribute to this atmosphere.

Murals can be painted directly on the walls, on canvas to be hung, can be created digitally and printed for application on a wall, or approached in other ways.

Mural Walls, 

The selected artist or artists will be expected to field measure and inspect the mural walls prior to beginning design work. Walls dedicated to mural installations are approximately the following dimensions:

• First floor: 22ʻ-6” wide, 10ʻ-6” high (note that upper portion of wall is partially obscured)
• Fourth floor: 23ʻ-6” wide, 12ʻ-6” high (note that upper portion of wall is partially obscured)
• Seventh floor: 24ʻ-0” wide, 10ʻ-4” high (note that upper portion of wall is partially obscured) 

Artists' proposals can be for one, two, or all three walls.

Project Timeline

Construction on Liliʻuokalani Center is expected to be substantially completed by January 2025, at which time the mural wall(s) will be accessible for painting, with programming set to begin in June 2025.  

Mural installation must be complete by March 15, 2025.

Project Objectives

1. Strategically utilize murals and/or artwork to reinforce the intentions and outcomes of Liliʻuokalani Center:
   a. Be a safe space for youth to be themselves, sample programs, and explore their passions
   b. Contribute to and leverage the building’s location in Honolulu’s Thomas Square Arts District. Close to the Honolulu Art Museum, Blaisdell Center, Straub, and many others, the location inspires possibilities.
   c. Honor youth voice, agency, and power.
   d. Align with LT’s brand as an organization that is hopeful, healing, and joyful.
   
2. Youth Collaboration: Engage meaningfully with youth participants and LC teammates throughout the creative process, fostering representation, ownership, and pride in the installation, while building skills and knowledge in LT youth.
   

Proposal Requirements

Interested artists are invited to submit proposals for one, two, or three mural walls that include the following: 

1.)  Artist Statement: Briefly introduce yourself and explain your interest in and connection to the mission of the Liliʻuokalani Center. 

2.)  Portfolio & Resume: Provide samples of previous mural work, emphasizing projects involving community collaboration as well as a CV/Resume. 

3.)  Concept Design: Present a preliminary, high-level concept for the mural or murals, outlining the incorporation of Native Hawaiian cultural elements and the ways in which youth participants will be involved in the creation and installation process. 

4.)  Collaboration Plan: Detail your approach to collaborating with youth participants, including workshops, educational opportunities, and other interactive activities. 

5.)  Timeline: Provide an estimated timeline for the creation and installation of the mural or murals, considering the project's collaborative nature. 

6.)  Budget: Provide a detailed budget for the proposed project. Note: If not based on Oahu, please include any relevant travel costs in your proposed budget. 

Please note that this RFP intentionally provides limited guidance. This is to allow for maximum creativity and flexibility for artists.

Artist Qualifications

To be considered for this project, artists must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be able to pass a criminal background check
• Provide at least two references from mentors, colleagues, clients, or previous employers
• Submit a portfolio or samples of previous artwork
• Be able to secure liability insurance for this project. If a candidate is not familiar with the process of securing insurance, LT may be able to provide guidance in this area to ensure that emerging, less-experienced artists can still be competitive in this process.
• Reside in Hawai’i. It is not a requirement for the artist to live on O’ahu.

 Lili’uokalani Trust recognizes that this could be an important opportunity and platform for emerging artists and especially encourages new or different voices to submit an RFP. Established artists with extensive experience are also welcome to apply.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit your proposal via email no later than June 30, 2024 to communications@onipaa.org. Late submissions will not be considered.  

Selection Process

1.) Proposal Review: The selection committee will review proposals based on creativity, experience, and alignment with the project objectives. 

2.) Interview: Shortlisted artists will be invited for an interview to discuss their proposals in more detail and to see the space. 

3.) Selection: The selected artist will be notified by August 1, 2024

We look forward to receiving your creative proposals and to collaborating with an artist or artists who share the commitment of Liliʻuokalani Trust to empowering Native Hawaiian youth through creative expression. 

Mahalo piha for your interest in this exciting project!