Thank you for your interest in exhibiting your work with the Volcano Art Center (VAC).
A Special Exhibition Space
Volcano Art Center’s special exhibition space is an opportunity for artists to present a distinctive, cohesive body of work in a setting apart from our regular gallery shop. While the shop represents a broad range of artists and artwork throughout the year, our special exhibitions provide an opportunity to take a deeper look at an artist’s ideas, process, perspective, and creative direction.
We have a limited number of exhibition opportunities each year, and proposals are reviewed by the VAC exhibition committee. Because space is limited, we encourage artists to propose work that feels particularly suited to an exhibition setting: new, dynamic, thoughtful, experimental, or otherwise offering something fresh to our audience.
We are especially interested in work that demonstrates a clear artistic vision and a cohesive body of work, and that gives visitors an opportunity to encounter Hawaiʻi, its environment, culture, or sense of place from a distinctive perspective.
Art + Place
VAC’s gallery is located within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and is operated under a Cooperative Agreement with the National Park Service as an enhancement to the Park’s interpretive programs. Our exhibition program therefore has a unique relationship to the landscape, history, culture, and natural environment of Hawaiʻi.
VAC’s mission is to promote, develop, and perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawaiʻi’s people and environment through the arts and education. In keeping with our agreement with the National Park Service, we seek work that has a meaningful relationship to Hawaiian culture and/or the scenic and natural values of Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Artists are encouraged to consider how their proposed exhibition interprets or engages with this place through art while also contributing to VAC’s mission.
Because our gallery is located within a National Park, proposals should also be mindful of National Park Service interpretive values. In particular, imagery and content should not portray invasive or introduced species in a manner that promotes or celebrates their presence within the Park’s ecosystem.
What Makes a Strong Proposal?
A strong proposal will generally include:
- A clear and cohesive exhibition concept
- A body of work that is appropriate for a special exhibition rather than simply additional shop inventory
- A distinctive artistic perspective or point of view
- Work that feels new, dynamic, or exploratory
- A meaningful connection to Hawaiʻi, its people, culture, environment, or sense of place
- Thoughtful consideration of how the work will function within the exhibition space
- Professional images and supporting information that clearly communicate the proposed work
Not every proposal needs to address Hawaiʻi in the same way. We welcome a range of media, approaches, and perspectives. What matters is that the proposal has something compelling to explore and share with our visitors.
Submitting a Proposal
Because exhibition opportunities are limited, proposals are reviewed carefully by the VAC exhibition committee. We encourage artists to submit a well-developed proposal that represents the direction and quality of the work they hope to exhibit.
[Apply for a Special Exhibition Here]
Applications may also be submitted by printing the downloadable PDFs below and submitting them by mail or in person.
VAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization supported by membership dues, public and private donations, and dedicated volunteers. Artists whose proposals are accepted are required to become VAC members before proceeding with an exhibition agreement.
If you have questions about the special exhibition program or the application process, please contact vacexhibitions@gmail.com
Click here for the PDF version of the SPECIAL EXHIBIT GUIDELINES for PROPOSAL
Click here for the PDF version of the EXHIBIT PROPOSAL COVER SHEET